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Acerola Cherry (Malpighia emarginata)
A tropical fruit that is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C (roughly 1,500-4,500 mg per 100g) plus polyphenols and anthocyanins. Marketed as a 'natural vitamin C' for immunity and skin — but the human efficacy evidence is thin: most data are compositional, antioxidant-assay, or animal/in-vitro studies, not clinical outcome trials.
What the evidence says
Most Acerola studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from mixed-quality studies published 2011–2024.
Based on 4 studies
Confidence
Very low confidenceAcerola is a genuinely dense vitamin C source, but its evidence is almost entirely compositional, in-vitro, and animal work — no human outcome trials test the fruit itself.
180 trials ongoing or recruiting · 704 completed on ClinicalTrials.gov
86 of the completed trials have posted results
Registered trials show research momentum for Acerola, not proof of effect — a registration is a plan, and posted results are sponsor-reported, not peer-reviewed. They are never counted toward the evidence rating above.
Browse these trials on ClinicalTrials.govClinicalTrials.gov · as of Oct 2026
Under EU law (Reg. 1924/2006), EFSA reviews whether a specific health claim for Acerola meets the evidence standard. These are independent regulatory decisions on claims — not studies, and never counted toward the evidence score above.
“Not authorised” means the specific claim wording did not meet the EU’s evidence standard — often a matter of dossier or phrasing, not proof of no effect. EFSA judges marketing claims and is kept separate from our study-based evidence score.
Source: EU Register of nutrition and health claims (European Commission / EFSA) · register snapshot Feb 2013
Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) is a small red cherry-like fruit native to Central and South America, prized as one of the densest known dietary sources of ascorbic acid — commonly cited at 1,500-4,500 mg vitamin C per 100g, roughly 50-100x that of an orange.
Alongside vitamin C it carries carotenoids, phenolics, anthocyanins and flavonoids, giving it high antioxidant capacity in lab assays.
Its marketing as a 'whole-food vitamin C' for immune support and skin health is plausible on composition alone, since vitamin C itself has well-established roles in immune function and collagen synthesis.
The honest reality for acerola specifically: the published literature is dominated by compositional surveys, in-vitro antioxidant assays, and a handful of animal studies (e.g. UVB-pigmentation models in mice).
Robust human randomized trials testing acerola supplements against clinical endpoints are essentially absent — so any benefit is inferred from its vitamin C content rather than demonstrated for the fruit itself.
Among the richest natural sources of ascorbic acid, a cofactor for immune function and collagen synthesis.
Anthocyanins and phenolics scavenge free radicals in laboratory antioxidant assays.
How Acerola works — from molecular targets to health outcomes. Click an edge to see supporting research.This visualization is in beta — pathways are being refined and expanded.
Avoid high-dose vitamin C sources; consult a clinician.
Vitamin C from food sources is generally regarded as safe within normal dietary amounts; high-dose extracts are not specifically studied.
Vitamin C from acerola enhances non-heme iron absorption — usually beneficial, but caution in iron-overload conditions.
Tip: Lower the dose or take with food
The current evidence for Acerola is insufficient to assign an evidence score, based on 4 indexed studies. A tropical fruit that is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C (roughly 1,500-4,500 mg per 100g) plus polyphenols and anthocyanins. Marketed as a 'natural vitamin C' for immunity and skin — but the human efficacy evidence is thin: most data are compositional, antioxidant-assay, or animal/in-vitro studies, not clinical outcome trials. Representative study: PMID 30150795.
Dosing for Acerola: Commonly 500-1500mg of acerola extract/powder daily (no clinically validated efficacy dose) (no cited human trial states a dose). Individual needs vary — start at the lower end of the range and adjust based on how you respond.
The best time to take Acerola is with meals. Take it with food. Typically taken with food as a vitamin C source; no acerola-specific trial-validated dose exists.
Acerola is generally well-tolerated and considered safe for most healthy adults at recommended doses. Reported side effects include mild GI upset / loose stools at high vitamin C doses. How often they occur is not established for all of them. Use caution if any of these apply to you: History of calcium-oxalate kidney stones (high vitamin C intake may raise oxalate); Hemochromatosis or iron overload (vitamin C enhances iron absorption).
Andrographis
Likely helpsStudied for comfort and symptom duration during upper-respiratory infections when taken at onset — also supports liver health.
Chlorella
Too few graded studiesFreshwater algae with the highest chlorophyll content of any plant — binds heavy metals and supports detoxification pathways.
Pelargonium Sidoides
Too few graded studiesA standardized root extract (EPs 7630) of the South African geranium, best evidenced for shortening symptom duration and severity in acute bronchitis and other upper-respiratory infections. The Cochrane review found the liquid preparation effective for acute bronchitis but rated overall evidence quality as low to very low.
Cranberry Extract
Mixed evidenceWell-researched extract that prevents UTI-causing bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract — best for prevention, not treatment.
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Reviewed by Dr. Baher Al Hakim · Last reviewed June 2026 · evidence from 4 studies · how we score · editorial policy
This information is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any supplement or medication.
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