Acai juice shows joint health
potential: Monavie study
Post a commentBy Stephen Daniells, 13-Apr-2011
Related topics: Research, Antioxidants, carotenoids, Phytochemicals, plant
extracts, Bone & joint health, Cognitive and mental function
A daily glass of acai juice was associated with a reduction in joint pain
measures, and this was correlated with improved blood antioxidant
levels, says a new study using MonaVie Active.
A staple of Indian tribes
Twelve weeks of consuming 120 ml of the açai juice were associated increases in
the antioxidant status of the 14 study participants, and this was correlated with
“improvements in physical well-being”, according to findings published in the
Journal of Medicinal Foods .
“The data presented here show a correlation between pain levels and antioxidant
status but only a poor or no correlation to lipid peroxidation and [C-reactive
protein (CRP), marker of inflammation],” report the researchers, led by Dr Gitte
Jensen from Oregon-based NIS Labs.
“We hope that these data will encourage other studies on complex natural
products that contain a broader spectrum of polyphenol antioxidants, in terms of
effects of consumption on complex issues such as pain perception and cognitive
function,” they added.
The study, funded by MonaVie LLC, was performed by researchers from NIS Labs,
Oregon-based Cascade Chiropractic and Rehabilitation, and AIBMR Life Sciences.
Super fruits from Central and South America
Açai berries (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) have long formed part of the staple diet of
Indian tribes. With the appearance of a purple grape and taste of a tropical berry,
it has been shown to have powerful antioxidant properties thanks to a high level
of anthocyanins, pigments that are also present in red wine.
It is presently being sold in a number of countries, including New Zealand,
Australia, South America, Japan, USA, and the Middle East
Study details
Dr Jensen and her co-workers recruited 14 older adults with some degree of
chronic joint pain to participate in their open-label pilot. The participants received
a daily 120 mL açai beverage (MonaVie Active, with açai pulp (Euterpe oleracea
Mart.)) for three months.
At the end of the study, results showed a decline in pain measures, as well as
improvements in the range of motion in the spine and other extremities.
Antioxidant levels, measured using NIS Labs’ CAP-e assay, were found to have
improved within only two weeks of starting the intervention, said the researchers,
and levels “continued to improve throughout the 12 weeks of study participation”,
they added.
On the other hand, no statistically significant changes were observed in levels of
C-reactive protein, a well-established marker of inflammation.
“The antioxidant status, as measured by the CAP-e, showed the best correlation
with improvements in physical health,” wrote the researchers. “Antioxidants as a
whole have been scrutinized as of late, mainly because of a meta-analysis of
studies involving such vitamins as ascorbic acid and vitamin E–tocopherols.
“It is crucial to separate studies of single antioxidant vitamins from studies
involving foods containing complex arrays of polyphenols,” they added.
AIBMR’s Alex Schauss serves as an uncompensated member on MonaVie’s
scientific advisory board.
Source: Journal of Medicinal Foods
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1089/jmf.2010.0150
“Pain Reduction and Improvement in Range of Motion After Daily Consumption of
an Ac¸ai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Pulp–Fortified Polyphenolic-Rich Fruit and Berry
Juice Blend”
Authors: G.S. Jensen, D.M. Ager, K.A. Redman, M.A. Mitzner, K.F. Benson, A.G.
Schauss