Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
European Congress on Obesity (ECO2018), Vienna, Avusturya, 23 - 25 Mayıs 2018, ss.312
Açai Berry: Usage as Functional Food and Relation with Health
Acar Tek, N.; Karacil Ermumcu, M.S.; Pehlivan, M.
Nutrition and Dietetics, Gazi University Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara/
Turkey
Introduction: The fruit of the açai palm (Euterpe oleracea Martius) is
widely found in South America with Amazon region of Brazil and it has
gained international attention as a popular functional food. Its fruits are
commonly known as açai berry, it is a small, round, black-purple and also
its appearance similar to a grape. Açai berry is consumed raw and as juice.
The açai berry juice is used commercially in syrup, ice cream, liquors, energy drinks and a variety of other beverages, and also it can be used as a
natural food colorant.
Methods: This review aims to evaluate açai berry usage as functional food
and its relation with health
Results: Açai berries have high amounts of flavonoids and also they are
rich in carbohydrates. The fat content of açai berry is that monounsaturated oleic acid is the primary fat (56.2%) and also it includes saturated fatty
acid-palmitic acid (24.1%) and polyunsaturated acid-linoleic acid (12.5%).
Açai berry includes vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, and polyphenols and anthocyanins. In the last decades, most of the
beneficial effects of açai berry gained attention. These are losing weight,
preventing aging, improving sexual performance, digestion, arthritis, and
general health. And also açai berry exhibits antioxidant, antinociceptive,
antiinflammatory and anticancer activities because of its high level of phytochemicals. These effects have been most frequently investigated, but the
responsible constituents have not been fully resolved. In vitro and animal
model studies showed that açai berry consumption slows the progression
of oxidative stress and induces hypocholesterolemic, antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. Recently the açai berry has
been marketed as a dietary supplement. It is considered a major botanical
dietary supplement. So companies sell açai berry products in the form of
tablets, juice, smoothies, and instant drinks.
Conclusion: There is limited scientific research to support the health benefits of the açai berry. Therefore, more scientific research is needed to confirm the many health benefits of the açai berry. Until the health benefits of
the açai berry are scientifically proven, it seems more reasonable, cheaper,
and safer to get antioxidants from other fruit and vegetable sources.