Effect of Acai Berry Consumption on Blood Glucose Levels in Healthy Adults

Effect of Acute Acai Berry Supplementation on Post-prandial Glycaemia in Healthy Adults: a Randomised Controlled Study

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that results in hyperglycaemia. This study aimed to identify whether the anthocyanins contained in acai berries can mitigate postprandial glycaemia in healthy adults when consumed in conjunction with carbohydrate. Study design was double blind randomised crossover with glycaemic levels assessed via capillary blood samples taken at baseline and over a 2 hour post-prandial period.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Post-prandial Glycaemia
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Acai smoothie; Dietary supplement: Placebo smoothie

Detailed Description

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a group of chronic metabolic disorders, characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, that results in hyperglycaemia. In the UK an estimated 4.3m people live with T2DM, and it is a major cause of kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, blindness and lower limb amputation. The primary digestive enzymes that affect carbohydrate digestion and hence postprandial glycaemic levels have been identified as α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Inhibition of these enzymes therefore reduces the rate of glucose absorption and is the principle behind T2DM medications such as acarbose, miglitol and voglibose. Whilst acai berries have been found to be rich in α-amylase and α-glucosidase, no research has been conducted on healthy adults to ascertain whether the consumption of acai berries in conjunction with carbohydrate mitigates the rise in postprandial glycaemia.

10 participants were recruited for a double blind randomised crossover study where participants consumed smoothies containing either acai or placebo after 10 hours of fasting. Capillary blood samples were taken at baseline then at 30 minutes intervals until 2 hours after consumption. The study included data for sex (female/male), age (years), weight (kg), height (cm), body mass index (kg/m2) and blood glucose (mmol/l). All data collection, smoothies preparation, smoothies consumption and blood sampling procedures were completed at St Mary's University during the period November-December 2020. Statistical analysis was conducted on the data for postprandial glycaemic response to ascertain whether the consumption of acai mitigated the glycaemic response relative to the placebo.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • London, United Kingdom, TW1 4SX
    • St Marys University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• BMI of 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known allergy to acai/berries or lactose.
• Pregnant or lactating.
• Alcohol/drug dependency.
• Smoking.
• Currently on an energy-restriction diet or have had a body weight change >10% in last 2 months.
• Eating disorders.
• Diagnosed with diabetes or another chronic condition.
• Taking chronic medication.
• Allergy to any of materials used in, or an unsurmountable fear of, the finger-prick procedure.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: PREVENTION
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
• Masking: DOUBLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Acai smoothie consumption; Participants (n=5) in this arm were randomly allocated to consume the acai smoothie at the first intervention. After a 7 day wash-out period, the participants consumed the placebo smoothie.	Dietary supplement: Acai smoothie; Smoothie containing 150g acai pulp
EXPERIMENTAL: Placebo smoothie consumption; Participants (n=5) in this arm were randomly allocated to consume the placebo smoothie at the first intervention. After a 7 day wash-out period, the participants consumed the acai smoothie.	Dietary supplement: Placebo smoothie; Control smoothie matched nutritionally (macronutrients) and sensorially to the acai smoothie.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Blood glucose	Finger capillary sample collected by micro cuvette (Glucose 201, HemoCue, UK) and analysed electronically (HemoCue 201+, HemoCue,UK).	Baseline to 120 minutes after intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: St Mary's University College

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): November 5, 2020
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): December 29, 2020
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): December 29, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 4, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 9, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): February 10, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): February 10, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 9, 2021
• Last Verified: February 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Acai (Euterpe oleracea), acute
• Other Study ID Numbers: SMU_ETHICS_2020-21_111

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No