Camu camu, the Amazonian superfruit, may help reverse fatty liver disease

Doctors have been stumped for years on how to effectively treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition affecting over a quarter of the world’s adult population. However, a surprising new study suggests that the answer may lie in an exotic Amazonian berry called camu camu.

NAFLD is a serious condition characterized by a buildup of fat in the liver, which can lead to inflammation, scarring, and even liver failure if left untreated. It’s strongly linked to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders, making it a growing public health crisis as waistlines expand worldwide. Unfortunately, there are currently no approved drug treatments, leaving lifestyle changes like weight loss and exercise as the only options.

Enter camu camu, a small red berry that grows wild in the Amazon rainforest. This superfruit is brimming with antioxidants, fiber, and other beneficial plant compounds called polyphenols. In a recent randomized, double-blind trial, published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, researchers found that giving overweight and hypertriglyceridemic adults just 1.5 grams of camu camu powder per day for 12 weeks led to a significant 15.85% reduction in liver fat compared to a placebo.

“The microbiota metabolizes the large polyphenol molecules that cannot be absorbed by the intestine, transforming them into smaller molecules that the body can assimilate to decrease liver fat,” explains Dr. André Marette, the study’s senior author and a professor at Université Laval, in a media release.

The researchers also found that taking camu camu supplements decreased levels of two key liver enzymes, ALT and AST, which are elevated in people with fatty liver disease and indicate liver damage. Additionally, the berry appeared to beneficially alter the gut microbiome, increasing the abundance of certain bacteria linked to improved metabolic health.

How exactly does this Amazonian superfruit work its magic on the liver?

Marette believes it has to do with the high concentration of polyphenols, which are known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

“They could reduce lipogenesis, i.e., the formation of lipid droplets in the liver. They could also stimulate lipid degradation by oxidation. A combination of the two mechanisms probably explains the high efficacy of the extract, as we’re playing on both sides of the coin,” the study author says.

“We hypothesize that the initial intestinal microbiota influences the response to polyphenols. If we find the factors involved, we may be able to modify the microbiota and increase the extract efficacy.”

Interestingly, the researchers didn’t find any changes in body weight or overall body fat during the study, suggesting that camu camu’s liver-specific effects are independent of weight loss. This opens up the possibility that the berry could be used not just for prevention but also as a treatment for those already battling fatty liver disease.

Of course, more research is still necessary to fully understand the mechanisms at play and confirm the findings in larger, longer-term trials. However, Marette is optimistic that camu camu could one day become a valuable tool in the fight against NAFLD.