Foods/Supplements-Vitamins: Acai

[pjoshea13]

I have never used acai - partly because of the hype but mostly because there were no PCa studies. Now there is one a Phase II study (with only 21 men).

Treatment was "twice daily intake of Acai Juice Product until PSA progression"

As is often the case, a PSA response was defined as a reduction of at least 50%. This was not achieved, but "One of those patients had a PSA response within the study time period."

"The PSA doubling time was lengthened in 71% of patients ...". (15/21)

-Patrick

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?te...

Integr Cancer Ther. 2018 Oct 5:1534735418803755. doi: 10.1177/1534735418803755. [Epub ahead of print]

Phase II Trial of Acai Juice Product in Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer.

Kessler ER1, Su LJ1, Gao D1, Torkko KC1, Wacker M1, Anduha M1, Chronister N1, Maroni P1, Crawford ED1, Flaig TW1, Glode LM1, Lam ET1.

Author information

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Plant derivatives have been studied as therapies for prostate cancer based on their purported anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and low toxicities. The acai berry is an example of a plant rich in phytochemicals, which may slow the growth of prostate cancer.

METHODS:

This was a phase II, Simon 2-stage clinical trial in patients with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer with a primary endpoint of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response. Patients were asymptomatic, with a rising PSA of at least 0.2 ng/mL, and were treated with twice daily intake of Acai Juice Product until PSA progression, with a primary endpoint of PSA response.

RESULTS:

Twenty-one patients were enrolled in the first stage of the trial. One of those patients had a PSA response within the study time period. The PSA doubling time was lengthened in 71% of patients (95% confidence interval = 48% to 89%) on the trial, and in a small number of responders, this was sustained over an extended time.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study did not meet its primary endpoint of 50% PSA response. Nevertheless, the overall tolerability and effects on PSA stabilization warrant further exploration in a biochemically recurrent population.

KEYWORDS:

acai; biochemical recurrence; clinical trial; nutraceutical; prostate cancer

PMID: 30289005 DOI: 10.1177/1534735418803755

[AnnieAppleseed]

As with almost all studies of natural substances, the money to fund a large-scale trial, is just NOT there. Pharma has repeatedly told me if they cannot patent something, they have NO interest. And that is even if it could be combined with their product to make OUR health/outcome better. That's our situation. So eventually one seeks, as I do, the preponderance of evidence over time. In other words, many small studies done year after year, have to serve as the evidence. There seems to be NO harm from food-based interventions (unless a direct food allergy). I founded cancer nonprofit Annie Appleseed Project to show folks these types of evidence.

[AnnieAppleseed]

Really all fruits and all vegetables offer nutrients our human bodies need all the time. Sometimes we need more of one than another. The thing is we don't even KNOW all the benefits.

[j-o-h-n]

Organic chemistry is difficult. Those who study it have alkynes of trouble.

Good Luck and Good Health.

J-o-h-n Sunday 10/07/2018 7:40 PM EDT