Acai berry, a fruit that makes Hollywood actress's favorite.

Researchers from the University of Reading and the University of Roehampton believe that Acai berry is rich in anthocyanins, which means it reduces the risk of age-related diseases.

The researchers said the initial hypothesis was that the fiber and plant polyphenols in Acai berry provide prebiotics and anti-genotoxic benefits for the probiotics in the colon.

Acai berry may have a prebiotics role as a feed for probiotics in the digestive system. Probiotics digest prebiotics produce fermentation that brings health benefits to the host, such as anti-inflammatory, improved metabolism, and increased satiety.

In this study, researchers observed in vitro how polyphenols in Acai berry pass through the digestive tract and maintain integrity.

The researchers frozen and ground the acai berry into powder and then simulated intestinal digestion using a standard method that simulates the human digestive system to observe the potential bioavailability and biological activity of the acai berry polyphenol in the digestive tract.

In the process, researchers found that a total of 49.8% of the initial polyphenols were available. Further research suggests that polyphenols in Acai berry may be degraded during digestion, but importantly, they are not completely destroyed, and a significant portion of these compounds may reach the colon all the time.

However, researchers said more randomized controlled trials are needed to better determine the health benefits of anthocyanins. In recent years, a number of studies have evaluated the interaction of some anthocyanin-rich fruits with bacteria in the intestine and whether this interaction can bring health benefits to the human body.