Reference Number: 452
Year: 2020
Link: Link to original paper
Health: Cardiometabolic diseases | Gut Microbiome | Inflammation | Lower Inflammation
Nutrition: Antioxidants | Polyphenols | Prebiotic
Summary
Objective: To evaluate the effects of moderate-term açaí and juçara juice intake on fasting glucose, lipid profile, and oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy subjects.
Methods: A randomized cross-over study was performed with 30 healthy adults. The subjects were assigned to drink 200 mL/day of açaí or juçara juice for four weeks with a 4-week washout period. Before and after each nutritional intervention, blood samples were obtained to evaluate the outcomes: fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), small, dense LDL-c (sd-LDL-c), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), uric acid, and activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx).
Results: After four weeks, açaí and juçara juices increased the concentrations of HDL-c by 7.7% and 11.4%, respectively (P < 0.05). In addition, açaí juice intake promoted significant increases in TAC (66.7%), CAT (275.1%), GPx (15.3%), and a decrease in OSI (55.7%) compared to baseline (P < 0.05 for all). Juçara juice intake significantly increased CAT activity (~15.0%) in relation to baseline. No significant intergroup differences were observed for any outcomes (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The results indicated a positive impact of regular consumption of açaí and juçara juices on the HDL-c levels, as well as on the antioxidant enzyme activities, which may contribute to cardiovascular health.
Significance of this study to the baker:
The Acacia berry is added to our Botanical Blends to boost diversity yet also because of its deep purple colour, it is rich in polyphenols. Health benefits are suggested, including modulation of cholesterol as found in this particular small human trial.
Acai Berries are the fruit of a species of palm tree called the Acai Palm (Euterpe oleracea) native to south America and mainly growing in swamps and floodplains. Here the berry has been a staple food since around the 18th century. Since the mid 1990s however, this fruit became particularly popular as a health food across the globe.