The Power of Acerola

Why Do People Need Vitamin C?

Humans cannot synthesize vitamin C and therefore depend on dietary sources to meet their vitamin C requirements. In the general population, deficiency risk is underestimated and occurs more frequently in men than in women, the elderly, etc. These groups share low fruit and vegetable consumption (Fain et al., 2004). Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is required for the formation, growth and repair of bone, skin and connective tissue. It aids in the absorption of iron, which the body needs to make red blood cells. Vitamin C also helps with the healing of burns and wounds.

Origin

Generally known as Barbados Cherry or West Indian Cherry, Malpighia glabra L. or Malpighia emarginata D.C (also known as Malpighia punicifolia L.), acerola is a fruit that grows on shrubs native to the West Indies. Acerola juice is popular in Brazil and this fruit is consumed as a natural remedy. The fruit has astringent, anti-inflammatory, stimulant and diuretic properties. Fresh acerola fruit is used in the treatment of diseases such as anemia, high cholesterol, diabetes, liver disorders, rheumatism and tuberculosis, and recovering patients may continue using it.

Diana Food: Acerola

Diana Food, located within the nutrition division of Symrise, provides advanced natural health and wellness solutions to the Food, Beverage and Nutraceutical industries. Diana Food carefully selects raw materials including fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood to deliver functions that provide clean labels, standardized nutritional actives and substantiated product claims. Diana Food started working with Acerola for food supplement applications over 15 years ago and more recently for the preservation of meat, baked goods and other foods. Diana is one of the key stakeholders in the Acerola Market. Acerola: Focused on Natural Vitamin C. The acerola fruit used by Diana Food is harvested while still green, at the full ripening stage: vitamin C concentration decreases as the fruit ripens. After the seed is removed from the fruit, concentrated fruit juice is obtained and spray dried until an extract with very high vitamin C content is obtained.

More Than Vitamin C

Due to its composition rich in antioxidants, acerola components provide natural vitamin C with high bioavailability. Polyphenols found in acerola also increase vitamin C stability.

High Vitamin C Content & Powerful Antioxidant

The acerola product range is in powder form containing natural vitamin C between 17% and 34%. Due to its high level as a natural vitamin C source, acerola powder offers many benefits for consumer health. It contributes to the normal function of the immune system and normal collagen formation, while also contributing to the normal function of bones, teeth, cartilage, gums, skin and blood vessels. It contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and helps reduce fatigue and tiredness. This is why many EFSA claims are possible when using acerola powder. Diana Food has optimized Acerola 50 times better than orange, which is the best vitamin C source!

Bioavailability

In a study conducted by Uchida (2011), acerola juice tended to promote the absorption of ascorbic acid in plasma and better suppressed its excretion in urine than ascorbic acid alone.

Greater Bioavailability Compared to Synthetic Vitamin C*

*Acerola juice tends to promote the absorption of ascorbic acid in plasma and has better limited its excretion in urine than ascorbic acid alone. (Uchida, 2011)

Authenticity

Authenticity can be checked by measuring the isotopic ratios of C13 ascorbic acid. If the isotopic values of ascorbic acid are not appropriate, adulteration is detected. Only acerola products without added vitamin C can be claimed as "Natural Vitamin C" or "Natural Source" or "Naturally High".

"Vitamin C and Contribution to the Normal Function of the Immune System"

Main Features:

• Natural (fruit) content of vitamin C >34% (HPLC),
• 11 claims approved by EFSA in the EU on the use of ascorbic acid,
• High antioxidant,
• High bioavailability,
• 5 identified polyphenol classes in the fruit,
• Beige/pink fine powder extract
• High solubility in water,
• Ideal for dietary supplements and functional foods,
• Also available in inorganic version.

Aysun Şentürk Sales Engineer Safic Alcan Kimya A.Ş.