WARNING!
This is an older article that may not reflect Dr. Mercola’s current view on this topic. Use our search engine to find Dr. Mercola’s latest position on any health topic.
By Dr. Mercola
Chances are, if you live in the U.S. and Europe, you may not have heard of camu camu (Myrciaria dubia, sometimes also referred to as cacari and camocamo), a small orange-red fruit, similar in size to that of a large cherry, with a tart flavor. The camu camu tree grows along Amazonian riverbanks in South America, and due to rapid perishability, you're not likely to find it at the supermarket.
You can, however, find it in powder and tablet form, the former of which can be added as a light flavoring to various foods and beverages. As information about the nutritional composition of camu camu is becoming more widely available, demand has started to grow. As noted in a 2015 systematic review published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine:1
"The presence of inflammation can contribute to an accelerated aging process, the increasing presence of comorbidities, oxidative stress, and an increased prevalence of chronic pain. As patient-centered care is embracing a multimodal, integrative approach to the management of disease, patients and physicians are increasingly looking to the potential contribution of natural products.
Camu camu, a well-researched and innovative natural product, has the potential to contribute, possibly substantially, to this management paradigm. The key issue is to raise camu camu's visibility through increased emphasis on its robust evidentiary base and its various formulations, as well as making consumers, patients, and physicians more aware of its potential."
A Vitamin C Powerhouse
Camu camu is perhaps most well-known for its vitamin C content, which exceeds even that of acerola cherries, which I personally grow at my home. Research suggests camu camu can contain anywhere from 1,882 to 2,280 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C per 100 grams of fresh fruit.2
Acerola cherries, which come in at a close second, typically contain around 1,680 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams. Kiwi, another fruit noted for its vitamin C content, contains less than 93 mg per 100 grams, and both lemons and oranges contain just 53 mg per 100 grams.
As the fruit ripens, vitamin C content starts to diminish, though, so where the fruit is available in its raw form, it's often eaten before fully ripened. This, however, will impact its flavor, as maximum flavor emerges when the fruit is fully ripe. Vitamin C is an important immune booster and helps defend against viral attacks and inflammation.
As such, camu camu is hailed for its ability to ameliorate ailments such as cold sores, herpes, shingles, cold and flu. It's a water-soluble vitamin, which means your body doesn't store it. And, unlike most other mammals, humans do not have the ability to make vitamin C, which means you need to get it from your diet.
Vitamin C is also an essential cofactor in enzymatic reactions. In this way, it plays a role in your body's production of collagen, carnitine (which helps your body turn fat into energy) and catecholamines (hormones made by your adrenal glands). Vitamin C is also used by your body for wound healing, repairing and maintaining the health of your bones and teeth, and plays a role in helping your body absorb iron.3
A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C also helps block some of the damage caused by DNA-damaging free radicals. Over time, free radical damage may accelerate aging and contribute to the development of heart disease and other health conditions. It's through this antioxidant effect that it's thought vitamin C may play a role in protecting heart health.
Other Nutritional Facts
Camu camu also contains a number of other valuable nutrients, including the following:4,5,6,7,8
Potassium, required for healthy heart and kidney function |
Manganese: An excellent source of manganese, camu camu provides over 100 percent of your daily value per 100 grams of fresh fruit |
Copper: Each 100 grams of fresh fruit provides about 10 percent of your daily value of copper |
Carotenoids such as lutein, beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, which are important for eye and brain health |
Flavonoids, primarily quercetin and kaempferol derivatives, the former of which has been shown to have very potent antiviral activity; 100 grams of fresh fruit contains about 400 mg of quercetin |
Valine, an essential amino acid needed for the prevention of muscle breakdown. It's also important for healthy function of your nervous system and supports cognitive function |
Leucine, another essential amino acid needed for healthy muscle and bone growth and recovery. It's also needed for the production of growth hormones |
Serine, an amino acid that plays an important role in digestion, as it helps break down protein and polypeptide bonds |
Gallic acid, which has antioxidant, antiviral and antifungal properties |
Ellagic acid, which has antioxidant and antidiabetes properties. Limited evidence also suggests it may have anticancer effects |
Dietary fiber: 100 grams of camu camu powder contains just over 33 grams of fiber |
Beneficial Brain Effects
As you can see, camu camu contains a number of different antioxidants, making this fruit a potent weapon against free radical damage. Research suggests it can help reduce plaque buildup in the brain — a hallmark of dementia and Alzheimer's disease9 — and boost cognitive function in younger adults, including improving focus, memory and concentration.
It's also been shown to help relieve mood swings and anxiety, in part by acting as a mild sedative. Its magnesium content, while not extraordinary, helps relax your body and mind, and antioxidants are thought to ease depression by eliminating inflammation. Aside from vitamin C, the anthocyanins, catechins and flavonols present in the fruit are also powerful anti-inflammatory agents.
Anti-Inflammatory, Antiviral and Antibacterial Properties
The anti-inflammatory effects of camu camu can also be helpful against any number of other inflammation-based conditions, such as arthritis, gout and migraine headaches. Smokers may also benefit from its high vitamin C content. In one study,10 smokers drank either camu camu juice or took vitamin C supplements each day for one week.
The camu camu group showed evidence of reduced oxidative stress, which plays a significant role in the development and pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, whereas the vitamin C group showed no change in antioxidant markers. The fruit also has antiviral and antibacterial properties, and can help stave off a number of viral and bacterial infections, including E. coli and herpes.
Other Potential Uses for Camu Camu
Studies have also shown camu camu may:
Lower risk of infertility, specifically by protecting and supporting the health of the reproductive organs11 |
Facilitate growth and toning of muscle, thanks to its diversity of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other plant compounds. As such, camu camu may be a valuable workout supplement |
Improve digestion, thanks to its fiber content |
Lower risk of diet-induced obesity12 |
Lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, courtesy of fiber, which helps regulate insulin activity13 |
Support eye health and protect vision, courtesy of carotenoids.14 Carotenoids are important for the prevention of macular degeneration, the No. 1 cause of blindness in the elderly, as well as cataracts |
Lower your risk of cancer, again thanks to the high amounts of about a dozen different antioxidant compounds in the fruit.15 Camu camu juice has also been shown to have antigenotoxic effects,16 meaning it helps reduce DNA damage that can lead to mutations and cancer |
Normalize a woman's menstrual cycle, thanks to its high vitamin C content, which has been shown to lengthen the luteal part of the menstrual cycle17,18 |
Increase progesterone production, again courtesy of vitamin C19 |
Protect against liver damage20 |
Contraindications and Warnings
While camu camu does not appear to have allergenic properties, and is generally safe, people with conditions related to high uric acid levels should use them cautiously, as these fruits may exacerbate uric acid-related conditions such as gout.
There's also limited evidence to suggest they may interfere with the workings of chemotherapy drugs, so be sure to discuss the use of camu camu with your oncologist if you are undergoing cancer treatment. One case-report of acute hepatitis, thought to have been caused by daily camu camu supplementation, has also been reported.21