The value of the Brazilian açai fruit as a therapeutic nutritional strategy for chronic kidney disease patients

Abstract

Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) fruit from the Amazon region in Brazil contains bioactive compounds such as α-tocopherol, anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-glycoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside), and other flavonoids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, the prebiotic activity of anthocyanins in modulating the composition of gut microbiota has emerged as an additional mechanism by which anthocyanins exert health-promoting effects. Açai consumption may be a nutritional therapeutic strategy for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients since these patients present with oxidative stress, inflammation, and dysbiosis. However, the ability of açai to modulate these conditions has not been studied in CKD, and this review presents recent information about açai and its possible therapeutic effects in CKD.

Dietary Components That May Influence the Disturbed Gut Microbiota in Chronic Kidney Disease

“…Much recent attention has been paid to the bioactive compounds of foods, such as polyphenols, and their capacity to modulate intestinal microbiota. These compounds are potent antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatories and are extensively used for the prevention of chronic “burden of lifestyle diseases” related to inflammation and oxidative stress [18,19,71]. Studies in humans show that the bioactive compounds present in some foods, like grapes, red wine, pomegranate, garlic, green tea, chocolate, turmeric, and cranberry, modify the composition of human intestinal microbiota (Table 4).…”

“…Several therapeutic strategies involving nutritional compounds have been proposed to improve uremic dysbiosis, such as probiotics [7,12,13], prebiotics [14,15,16], synbiotics [17], bioactive compounds [18,19], and low protein diets [20]. The purpose of this review is to discuss nutritional interventions that potentially could benefit CKD patients through modulation of gut microbiota.…”

The sweet side of dark chocolate for chronic kidney disease patients

“…For example, cranberry consumption known historically as a strategy to treat urinary tract infections, can also be used to decrease inflammation and oxidative stress in CKD (De Almeida Alvarenga et al, 2019). Brazilian açai fruit has also been suggested as a food with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant action, and is a rich source of flavonoids (Martins et al, 2018). Moreover, studies with curcumin have shown interesting anti-inflammatory effects in CKD (Alvarenga et al, 2018;Alvarenga et al 2020).…”

Provenient residues from industrial processing of açaí berries (Euterpe precatoria Mart): nutritional and antinutritional contents, phenolic profile, and pigments

“…There was great scientific interest in this fruit due to the beneficial effects on human health related to its phytochemical and nutritional composition. These effects are mainly related to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and cardioprotective capacities (Alessandra-Perini et al, 2018;Martins et al, 2018;Pala et al, 2018).…”