Acai Berry Supplements and Beverages Review

Find the Best Acia Berry Supplements and Beverages. See Which Acai Berry Supplements and Beverages Passed Our Tests of Quality.

Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Last Updated: 01/31/2012 | Initially Posted: 08/25/2009

What It Is:

Acai (pronounced AH-sigh-EE) berry is the fruit of the acai palm (Euterpe oleracea), also known as the cabbage palm. Acai is indigenous to the northern part of South America and is a staple of the traditional Brazilian diet where the acai berry is typically eaten raw and as a juice, which is also used for flavoring products.

Acai juice contains about 2.4% protein and 5.9% lipids (Del-Pozo-Inzfran 2004). The fruit pulp contains about 4% protein and 12% lipids. The lipids consist primarily of the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) oleic acid, followed by the saturated fatty acid palmitic acid, and the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) linoleic acid. Other nutrients include calcium, vitamin A, phosphorus, iron, and thiamine -- minerals and vitamins found in most fruits. (Schauss 2006).

Acai berry contains several anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and other flavonoids. The anthocyanins give the ripe fruit its purple color and a very high antioxidant capacity, higher than cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, or blueberry. A large portion of the anthocyanins are largely bound to insoluble fiber of the pulp. Products that include the fruit pulp, as opposed to clear filtered juice, will provide higher amounts of antioxidants (Mertens-Talcott 2008).

What It Does:

Acai products have been touted for many uses including skin rejuvenation, cancer prevention, cardio-protection, enhancement of the immune and digestive systems, as well as improved sex drive, but there are no clinical studies supporting the health benefits of acai. One laboratory study did find that acai berries destroyed cultured leukemia cells (Del-Pozo-Inzfran 2006) and a product made with acai fruit pulp and skin powder inhibited cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2 enzymes in the laboratory, suggesting an anti-inflammatory use (Schauss 2006).

Quality Concerns and Tests Performed:

Although many compounds in acai berry juice have been identified (as noted above) the specific compounds (and amounts of those compounds) that represent authentic acai have not yet been defined. Currently, there is no way to definitively judge whether one product is more authentic than another — let alone more effective.  Fueled by media coverage as a "super fruit" (one having high antioxidant capacity), there has been a rapid rise in demand for acai in the U.S. In fact, total sales grew 85.8% in 2007 to $30 million, according to the Nutrition Business Journal. SPINScan reported 121% additional growth in sales during 2008 in the health and natural food stores. It has been speculated that this demand may have outstripped the supply available for export from countries like Brazil, which supplies the bulk of acai raw material. It has also been noted that there are a limited number facilities in Brazil able to process acai in accordance with international food safety and quality standards. In addition, some raw material suppliers are reportedly selling "Chinese Acai" despite the fact that the plant is not native to this region. The limited supply, exploding demand and lack of test methods makes acai a prime candidate for adulteration with inferior ingredients. As neither the U.S. government nor any other agency is responsible for routinely testing supplements or other dietary supplements for their contents or quality, ConsumerLab.com, as part of its mission to independently evaluate health and nutrition products, purchased a variety of acai supplements and beverages sold in the U.S. All were tested to determine whether they exceeded contamination limits for chlorinated pesticides and heavy metals (lead, arsenic, and cadmium), as these have been found in other plant-based supplements. Because acai is an ingredient in a variety of weight loss products, all products were also tested to determine if they contained undeclared amounts of stimulant drugs including caffeine, which is sometimes added to such products. Product labels were also reviewed for compliance with labeling requirements. See Testing Methods and Quality Criteria for more information about testing.

What CL Found:

As described below, most products met the quality criteria by which they were evaluated but some caution should be taken with a few products. As it is not currently possible to determine the amount and authenticity of acai, the overall quality "Approval" used in most other ConsumerLab.com product reviews was not applied. Contaminants
ConsumerLab.com found that none of the products exceeded contamination limits for heavy metals or chlorinated pesticides.

Caffeine
Caffeine and other stimulants do not naturally occur in acai. However, two combination products listed caffeine or an ingredient that naturally contains caffeine (such as green tea) as ingredients. The amounts of caffeine were not stated. Testing found that Acai Berry Detox , a proprietary blend of green tea, acai and anhydrous caffeine that is labeled as the "ultimate fat burner," contained 110.7 mg of caffeine per daily suggested serving (2 capsules) — an amount equal to that found in about three cans of cola or a regular cup of coffee. Caffeine does have a thermogenic effect, but there is no evidence to suggest that acai has any effect on metabolism or weight loss. Garden Greens Acai Blast, which listed green tea as an ingredient, contained just a small amount of caffeine: 5.8mg to 11.6 mg per 2 to 4 capsule serving. No other products contained detectable amounts of caffeine or other stimulants.

Laxative ingredients
As noted above, acai is often part of weight loss or cleansing products. Sometimes these products include natural laxatives. Acai Berry Edge contains the stimulant laxatives Cascara sagrada and Senna leaf. The State of California requires a warning statement on all dietary supplements containing stimulant laxatives (which include aloe, buckthorn, cascara, frangula, rhubarb root and/or senna). Acai Berry Edge did not have the State of California required statement on its label warning that the product should not be used if you have or develop diarrhea, loose stools, or abdominal pain, to consult your physician if you have frequent diarrhea; and, if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, to consult your physician before using the product.

If you are thinking of using any laxative or "cleansing" product for weight loss, it is important to know that laxatives are not effective for sustained weight loss. By the time that laxatives act on the large intestine, most foods and calories have already been absorbed by the small intestine, through which food first passes. What laxatives will do is cause the loss of water, minerals, and electrolytes. Chronic use may lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, kidney failure and even death. Good information about the dangers of laxative abuse is provided by the National Eating Disorders Association.

Amount of Acai
Labels on all of the supplements, other than Amazon Thunder, listed the amounts of acai berry (or fruit). Most were 4:1 or 5:1 extracts and suggested 250 mg to 2,000 mg of extract per daily serving. One product, Solgar Acai Extract, suggested using a smaller amount (50 mg per daily serving) but claimed a more concentrated extract (20:1). It is important to keep in mind that extracts, even with the same extraction ratios, can vary significantly because extraction processes may differ and may preferentially extract different compounds. Acai extracts are not "standardized" like most herbal supplements because acai has not been chemically well characterized.

Among the beverages tested, Sambazon Acai claimed that each bottle contained the juice of 120 acai berries. MonaVie Original included acai as part of a proprietary blend without listing the amount. As noted earlier, it is not currently possible to determine the amount and authenticity of acai, so ConsumerLab.com could not test such claims.

Disturbing Business Practices and Scams
Some marketers of acai-containing products offer the product for free or for a nominal shipping charge as an introductory offer and automatically enroll you in a continuity program to receive additional shipments at full price. Many consumers have unwittingly enrolled in these programs and filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau, State Attorneys General offices, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Two products that ConsumerLab.com selected for this review, Acai Berry Detox and Acai Berry Edge, were purchased this way.

In March of 2009 the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) issued a Fraud Alert warning consumers about credit card scams and exaggerated health claims relating to some acai products. In July of 2009 the Texas Attorney General announced a settlement with the maker of Acai Berry Maxx, which had claimed the product could limit premature aging and could flush up to 30 pounds of waste and toxins from the body. Under the settlement, the company agreed to stop shipping unauthorized orders to customers, refrain from making false health claims, and clearly disclose its terms of service to future purchasers.

In August of 2009 Oprah Winfrey and the physician Dr. Mehmet Oz filed suits against several companies selling acai supplements, as well as other supplements, alleging false endorsement and other violations. Among those named in the suit are the those selling Acai Berry Detox and MonaVie -- two of the products in this report.

In January of 2012 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with six online marketers accused of posting deceptive information on fake news sites to attract consumers to websites selling acai berry supplements and other weight loss products.

Test Results by Product:

Listed alphabetically within each product group below are test results for twelve acai products. ConsumerLab.com selected six of these products. The other six were tested at the request of their manufacturers/distributors through ConsumerLab.com's Voluntary Certification Program and are included for having met specific quality criteria for contaminants (each of these products is indicated with an asterisk in the first column). Also listed are two products similar to ones that met the specific quality criteria but sold under different brand names.

Products are grouped as acai-only pills, acai combination pills, and acai liquids (beverages). Shown for each product are the claimed amounts and types of acai and the suggested daily serving from its label. The full list of ingredients is available for each product by clicking on the word "Ingredients" in the first column.

RESULTS OF CONSUMERLAB.COM TESTING USED FOR ACAI SUPPLEMENTS Click on beneath a product name to find a vendor that sells it. To find retailers that sell some of the listed products click here.
Product Name Amount of Ingredient(s) Per Unit Suggested Daily Amount Click on "Ingredients" for Full List	Manufacturer or Distributor	Labeled Amount of Key Ingredient per Daily Suggested Amount	— TEST RESULTS — (See How Products Were Evaluated)
			Did Not Exceed Contamination Limit for Chlorinated Pesticides	Did Not Exceed Contamination Limit for Lead, Arsenic and Cadmium	For Stimulants Caffeine (mg) per Day ND = None Detected
Pills: Acai Only
Nature's Bounty® Acai 1,000 mg (500 mg acai extract per softgel, 2 per day)* Ingredients	Mfd. by Nature's Bounty, Inc.	1,000 mg extract			ND
Nature's Herbs® Power-Herbs Acai Fruit (425 mg acai extract per capsule, 2 per day)* Ingredients	Mfd. by IdeaSphere, Inc.	850 mg extract			ND
Solgar® Acai Extract (25 mg acai extract per softgel, 2 per day)* Ingredients	Mfd. by Solgar Vitamin and Herb	50 mg extract***			ND
Swanson® Superior Herbs Acai Berry Extract (500 mg acai extract per capsule, 2 per day)* Ingredients	Dist. by Swanson Health Products	1,000 mg extract			ND
The Vitamin Shoppe Acai Extract (500 mg acai extract per vegetarian capsule, 2 to 4 per day)* Ingredients	Dist. by The Vitamin Shoppe®	1,000 - 2,000 mg extract			ND
Similar to APPROVED Products: **
Puritan's Pride® Acai 1,000 mg (500 mg acai extract per softgel, 2 per day) Ingredients	Mfd. by Puritan's Pride, Inc.	1,000 mg extract	Similar to: Nature's Bounty® Acai 1,000 mg
Vitamin World® Acai 1,000 mg (500 mg acai extract per softgel, 2 per day) Ingredients	Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc.	1,000 mg extract	Similar to: Nature's Bounty® Acai 1,000 mg
Pills: Combinations with Acai
Acai Berry Detox (250 mg acai extract per capsule, 2 per day) Ingredients	Dist. by FWM Laboratories Caution: Billing automatically continues after product trial.	500 mg extract			Found 110.7 mg caffeine per 2 capsule serving (equal to about one cup of coffee)
Acai Berry Edge™ (125 mg acai per capsule, 2 to 4 per day) Ingredients	Dist. by GNS Inc. Caution: Billing automatically continues after product trial.	250 - 500 mg extract WARNING: Contains stimulant laxatives without required warning			ND
Amazon Thunder (amount of "freeze dried acai" not stated - part of proprietary blend, 2 to 6 capsules per day) Ingredients	Dist. by Amazon Thunder, Inc.	Amount not stated****			ND
Garden Greens™ Acai Blast™ (250 acai extract per vegetarian capsule, 2 to 4 per day) Ingredients	Dist. by Garden Greens™	500 - 1,000 mg extract			Found small amount of caffeine (5.8 mg to 11.6 mg caffeine per 2 to 4 capsule serving)
Pure Encapsulations® Acai 600 (600 mg acai extract per vegetarian capsule, 1 to 2 per day)* Ingredients	Mfd. by Pure Encapsulations, Inc.	600 - 1,200 mg extract			ND
Liquids:
MonaVie Original (amount of acai not stated - part of proprietary blend, 2 to 4 fl oz servings per day) Ingredients	Dist. by MonaVie LLC	Amount not stated			ND
Sambazon® Acai (120 acai berries (weight not given) per 10.5 fl oz bottle, 8 fl oz serving size) Ingredients	Dist. by Sambazon	~91 berries per 8 fl oz serving			ND
*Tested through CL'sVoluntary Certification Program prior to, at time of, or after initial posting of this Product Review. ** Product not tested but identical in formulation and manufacture to a product that has passed testing but sold under a different brand. For more information see CL's Multi-Label Testing Program. *** Higher concentration (20:1) than other extracts tested, which were generally 4:1 or 5:1. **** After publication of this report, Amazon Thunder Inc. emailed CL to say that its label "...clearly states each capsule contains 500mg of freeze dried acai." However, this is not what appears on the label. The amount of acai is not included in the Supplement Facts panel on the back label. The front label states "500 mg - 60 Vegetable Capsules" but does not specify how much of this is acai and how much is camu camu fruit. In fact, CL found the contents of the capsules to weigh approximately 460 mg per capsule, which, supposedly, includes both acai and camu camu fruit. The label also does not state the part of the acai plant used (e.g. berry), a FDA labeling requirement.
Unless otherwise noted, information about the products listed above is based on the samples purchased by ConsumerLab.com (CL) for this Product Review. Manufacturers may change ingredients and label information at any time, so be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not necessarily be of the same quality as what was tested. The information contained in this report is based on the compilation and review of information from product labeling and analytic testing. CL applies what it believes to be the most appropriate testing methods and standards. The information in this report does not reflect the opinion or recommendation of CL, its officers or employees. CL cannot assure the accuracy of information.
Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2009. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced, excerpted, linked to, or cited in any fashion without the express written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC.

ConsumerTips™:

Acai berry is generally sold in the U.S. as a bottled juice, juice blend or as an extract (typically a pill). While the claimed amounts of acai and acai extract ranged from under 50 mg to as much as 2,000 mg per daily serving, there is no meaningful basis for comparing the amounts of acai in these products due to a lack of scientific study of the constituents (preventing standardization) and their clinical relevance. Recommended daily serving amounts have not been established.

Concerns and Cautions:

Acai fruit and juice are generally considered to be safe as foods but safety studies have not been conducted with them or with acai supplements. Interactions of acai with other foods, drugs, or supplements have also not been well studied. As noted earlier, some acai products are marketed with false claims regarding their health benefits and/or false celebrity endorsements. Some are sold using unethical billing practices. Also be cautious with products that include laxative ingredients.

References:

Del Pozo-Insfran D, Brenes CH, Talcott ST. Phytochemical composition and pigment stability of Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.). J Agric Food Chem 2004;52:1539-45.

Del-Pozo-Inzfran D, Percival SS, Talcott ST. Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) polyphenolics in their glycoside and aglycone forms induce apoptosis of HL-60 leukemia cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Feb 22;54(4):1222-9.

Mertens-Talcott SU, Rios J, Jilma-Stohlawetz P, et al. Pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins and antioxidant effects after the consumption of anthocyanin-rich acai juice and pulp (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) in human healthy volunteers. J Agric Food Chem. Sep 10, 2008;56(17): 7796-7802.

Schauss AG, Wu X, Prior RL, et al. Phytochemical and nutrient composition of the freeze-dried Amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (acai). J Agric Food Chem 2006;54:8598-603

Schauss AG, Wu X, Prior RL, et al. Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried Amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (acai). J Agric Food Chem 2006;54:8604-10

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Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not an endorsement of any product nor is it meant to substitute for the advice provided by physicians or other healthcare professionals. The information contained herein should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Consumers should inform their healthcare providers of the dietary supplements they take