New Study Gives Insight into Açai*
In a recent preclinical study, açai was shown to have significant health-promoting properties. Açai was one of seven berries that demonstrated an ability to maintain healthy proliferation of esophageal cells and were associated with increased antioxidant capacity in rats. Açai was also one of two berries that significantly influenced levels of a cytokine involved in the immune response. These health-promoting properties were linked to açai’s content of proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, two nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. * Stoner GD, Wang LS, et al. Pharmaceutical Research, March 16, 2010

Study Indicates MonaVie May Help Maintain Healthy Blood Glucose Levels
A new study on MonaVie™ and MonaVie Active™ shows that both have a low Glycemic Index (GI) rating, an important measurement used around the world to help consumers understand how the foods they eat impact their blood sugar levels. MonaVie Pulse™ was shown to have a GI value on the “low end” of the intermediate category. These results indicate that MonaVie juices may help maintain healthy blood glucose levels.

You can find the document, “Glycemic Index Results for MonaVie, MonaVie Active, and MonaVie Pulse,” in the Document Library of your Virtual Office.

Research Shows Açai Consumption Supports Healthy Heart in Rats*
Increased antioxidant capacity and the maintenance of healthy cholesterol levels have been associated with maintaining a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. A study that investigated the effects of açai supplementation on cholesterol levels and antioxidant capacity in rats showed that rats consuming açai and a standard diet or a high-cholesterol diet improved markers of antioxidant capacity. Rats that were fed açai and a high-cholesterol diet had significantly less increase in total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol than rats fed only a high-cholesterol diet. These results suggest that açai may be beneficial in reducing the risk of heart disease in rats.

Oliveira de Souza M, et al., Diet supplementation with acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart) pulp…, Nutrition (2009), doil:10.1016/j.nut.2009.09.007

* This research is for information purposes only. The benefits shown in this study do not directly translate to humans. More research needs to be done to determine if consuming açai may provide similar benefits to humans.

Açai Palm Fruit Improves Survival of Flies on High Fat Diet
The results of a recent study conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Aging suggest that açai may assist in alleviating some of the detrimental effects caused by a high fat diet and oxidative stress. Female flies that were fed a high fat diet and açai had a significantly increased lifespan compared to those just fed a high fat diet. The lifespan of female flies subjected to oxidative stress and fed açai was increased compared to oxidative-stressed flies that were not fed açai. Reducing oxidative stress has been shown to extend lifespan and has been suggested as one of the factors affecting aging. The antioxidant properties of açai appear to aide in the survival of oxidative-stressed flies. More importantly, the açai used in this study was supplied by MonaVie.
Sun, X. et al. Açai palm fruit (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp improves survival of flies on a high fat diet. Exp. Gerontol. (2010), doi:10.1016/j.exger.2010.01.008

The MonaVie EMV Efficacy Study
A recent study showed that 20 out of 25 people felt somewhat-to-highly energized after drinking
MonaVie EMV.

The double blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study was conducted at the University of Southern California. Over a period of two days, 25 participants (14 males, 11 females) whose average age was 20 years old consumed MonaVie EMV as well as a placebo.

Each day, participants were placed on a treadmill set at 3 miles per hour with zero percent grade incline. After two minutes, incline grade was increased to 10 percent at 3 mph for 10 minutes. Then, participants were asked how energized they felt based on the Profile of Mood States. A total of 20 participants reported feeling somewhat-to-highly energized after drinking MonaVie EMV.

The researchers who conducted this study concluded that MonaVie EMV is a healthy alternative to many of the energy drinks on the market. They also noted that creating an acai product with these antioxidant levels and its attendant health benefits is a natural fit for individuals seeking an improvement in energy.

All current studies, research, or publications can be found on www.aibmr.com (also see bibliography below). This is the website to check when new studies, articles, or books are published. Not all of the studies are available for free, some you may have to look up online and download for a fee (copyright law) if you want access to the full study, especially the newer studies published this year.

1.Schauss, A. G., Wu, X., Prior, R. L., Ou, B., Patel, D., Huang, D. and Kababick, J. P. 2006. Phytochemical and nutrient composition of the freeze-dried amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (acai). J Agric Food Chem 54: 8598-603.

2.Schauss, A. G., Wu, X., Prior, R. L., Ou, B., Huang, D., Owens, J., Agarwal, A., Jensen, G. S., Hart, A. N. and Shanbrom, E. 2006. Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (açai). J Agric Food Chem 54: 8604-10.

3.Jensen GS, Patterson KM, Barnes J, Certer SG, Wu, W, Scherwitz L, Beaman R, Endres JR, Schauss AG. In vitro and in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of an antioxidant-rich fruit and berry juice blend. Results of a pilot and randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 2008, 56(18): 8326–8333.

4.Honzel D, Carter SG, Redman KA, Schauss AG, Endres J, and Jensen GS. Comparison of chemical and cell-based antioxidant methods for evaluation of foods and natural products: Generating multifaceted data by parallel testing using erythrocytes and polymorphonuclear cells. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 2008, 56(18): 8319–8325.

5.Schauss AG, Wu X, Jensen GS. Increased Antioxidant Capacity and Inhibition of Lipid Peroxidation in Healthy Adults Consuming an Açai (Euterpe oleracea) Fruit-Based Juice. Proc. IInd IS on Human Health Effects of F&V Ed.: B. Patil. Acta Hort. 841, ISHS 2009.

6.Schauss AG, Clewell A, Balogh L, Szakonyi IP, Financsek I, Horvath J, Thuroczy J, Beres E, Vertesi A, Hirka G. Safety evaluation of an açai-fortified fruit and berry functional juice beverage (Monavie Active®). Toxicol. 2010 May 6 [Epub ahead of print]

7.Kang J, Li Z, Wu T, Jensen GS, Schauss AG, Wu X. Anti-oxidant capacities of flavonoid compounds isolated from açai pulp (Euterpe oleracea Mart.). Food Chem. 2010;122:610-617.

8.Schauss AG, Jensen GS, Wu X. Acai (Euterpe oleracea): An Amazonian palm fruit with broad antioxidant activity. Evidence of antioxidant availability and anti-inflammatory activity based on a series of bioassays and clinical pilot studies to test a complex natural fruit product. In: Flavor and Health Benefits of Small Fruit. Qian M, Rimando A [eds.] American Chemical Society (ACS) Symposium Series: Oxford University Press, 2010. Chapter 13, pp 213-223.

9.Sun X, Seeberger J, Albericol T, Schauss AG, Zou S. Açai palm fruit (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp improves survival of flies on a high fat diet. Exp Gerontol. 2010;45:243-251.

10.Schauss AG. A macro and nutrient rich palm fruit from the Amazon rain forest with demonstrated bioactivities in vitro and in vivo. In: Watson RR, Preedy VR, eds. Bioactive Foods in Promoting Health. Oxford: Academic Press; 2009; p. 479–490.

11.Jensen GS, Schauss AG, Beaman R, Ager, DM. Açai fruit (Euterpe oleracea Mart): systematic and collaborative study of the phytochemistry, nutrient composition, and in vitro and in vivo bioactivities of the Amazonian palm fruit in humans. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2009; 15(3): S90–S91.

12.Schauss AG. Açai: An Extraordinary Antioxidant-Rich Palm Fruit from the Amazon. Second Edition. Biosocial Publications: Tacoma, 2009.

13.Schauss AG. Extraordinary antioxidant activity and nutritional content of a small palm fruit Euterpe oleraceae (“Açai”) from the Amazon. Oral presentation at the 236th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Division of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Symposium on Flavor and Health Effects of Small Fruits. Philadelphia, PA, August 18, 2008. [Abstract] Cornucopia, Fall, 2008, AGFD 95.

14.Schauss AG, Jensen G, Wu X, Scherwitz L. Increased antioxidant activity in vivo consuming MonaVie, an Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) berry fruit-based beverage. [Abstract] Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Human Health Effects on Fruits and Vegetables, October 9, 2007, Houston, Texas, pp. 39–40.

15.Schauss AG, Ou B and Wu X. High radical oxygen scavenging (ROS) and antioxidant activity in freeze-dried Euterpe oleracea (OptiAçai) palm fruit pulp. [Abstract] FASEB Journal, 2006; 20(4): A145.