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

St Mary's University College

Status: Completed

Conditions: Post-prandial Glycaemia

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Placebo smoothie; Dietary Supplement: Acai smoothie

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04748575

SMU_ETHICS_2020-21_111

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 10 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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10 participants in 2 patient groups

Acai smoothie consumption

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Acai smoothie

Placebo smoothie consumption

Experimental group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo smoothie