✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
📰Read the full Acai Berry evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ ZERO human RCTs for any health outcome [2]
⚠ Weight loss claims are SCAMS (FTC enforcement) [1]
⚠ ORAC scores don't predict health outcomes (USDA abandoned 2012) [1]
⚠ Blueberries/blackberries = same anthocyanins, fraction of cost [1]
⚠ Açaí bowls: 400–600 calorie desserts [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
ℹ️ No validated blood test. There is no established laboratory test to assess status or guide dosing for this ingredient. Clinical response and symptoms are the practical guide.
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Açaí is anthocyanin-rich (genuinely nutritious) but has ZERO human RCTs for any health benefit. The 'superfood' marketing is built on ORAC scores (abandoned by USDA in 2012) and weight loss SCAMS (FTC actions). Blueberries/blackberries provide equivalent anthocyanins at a fraction of the price. Açaí bowls are 400–600 calorie desserts, not health foods [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Berry. Safe as food [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Berry — safe as food [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: Any [1].
💊 With food: As food [1].
🚫 Avoid: Paying premium for unproven 'superfood' claims [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Freeze-dried açaí powder', 'common', 'Best preservation of anthocyanins. 500–1,000 mg/day [2].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Açaí juice/pulp', 'common', 'Diluted. Often high in added sugar [1].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Açaí bowls', '', 'Popular food trend. Usually high calorie (granola, honey, etc.) [1].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
Is açaí a superfood? ▼
Açaí for weight loss? ▼
ZERO evidence. Açaí weight loss products have been the subject of FTC and state attorney general actions for deceptive marketing. Açaí bowls are typically 400–600 calories. Açaí does NOT cause weight loss [1].
Is açaí worth the premium price? ▼
Nutritionally: no. You can get equivalent anthocyanins from blueberries, blackberries, or elderberries at a fraction of the price. Açaí is expensive due to transport (Amazon origin, 24-hour spoilage window) and 'superfood' marketing premium [1].
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
High anthocyanin content: confirmed by analysis [1]. ORAC score is high but ORAC doesn't predict health outcomes (USDA abandoned 2012) [1]. No meaningful human RCTs: confirmed by systematic literature search [2]. HIGH
Moderate
Antioxidant capacity: increased plasma antioxidant capacity in acute PK studies [2]. That's about it. MODERATE
Insufficient
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Relative
⚠ No proven 'detox/weight-loss' effect — treat such claims skeptically
⚠ MRI scheduling — may affect certain scan results (reported)
⚠ Pregnancy and lactation — culinary amounts fine; concentrated extracts less studied
🚩 Red flags
● Patient buying açaí for weight loss — zero evidence, FTC scam history [1]
● Patient paying superfood premium — blueberries are equivalent [1]
6 Interactions
7 Regulatory
United States (FDA): Food. FTC has taken action against deceptive açaí weight loss marketing [1].
8 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Acai Berry — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 15]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/acai-berry/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Acai Berry — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/acai-berry/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: February 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Acai Berry — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/acai-berry/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG