Choosing the best acai research is based on evaluating the source providing the research information. Independent non-profit groups and universities are generally credible research sources, while research conducted by companies selling acai products should be evaluated with healthy skepticism. Most private institutions use controlled conditions that are evaluated by educated scientists to determine the potential health benefits of acai, while companies out for financial gain may report incorrect findings or findings from studies that were not conducted by qualified scientists. Credible acai research will state the source of conclusions and statistics up front, while unreliable research will word claims in general terms such as "studies show" or "researchers have found" without stating the exact source of such claims.

Acai berry is a Brazilian palm berry that is marketed as a health "superfood". It is typically sold in juice, powder, and caplet form, and has been said to have a wide variety of health benefits including increased energy, detoxification, increased metabolism, improved heart health, and increased sexual vitality. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not released any official research on the berry, though independent groups and universities have conducted acai research.

A team of scientists with Texas AgriLife Research conducted the first acai research on humans in the US in 2008. Their research showed that acai berry antioxidants do have the capability to be absorbed by the human body. The study did not evaluate the health benefits of the antioxidants, but it did show that antioxidant activity in the blood and urine significantly increased at 12 and 24-hour intervals after participants consumed acai berry pulp.

A group of scientists at the University of Florida (UF) published a study on the effect of acai berries on cancer cells in January 2006. The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and showed that acai berry extracts caused up to 86 percent of leukemia cells in a tested culture to self-destruct. Stephen Talcott, a professor with the UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, stated that the study was not conclusive on whether or not acai berry could actually prevent or effectively cure leukemia in humans, but he did note that this acai research was important to learning more about the health benefits of the antioxidants found in acai berries.

Most people do not have any negative or allergic reactions to acai berries, so consuming them should not have any negative health effects. Researchers remain skeptical about the hefty claims made by many acai product manufacturers, however. While no conclusive research has been conducted on whether or not acai berry consumption can cure or prevent diseases and digestive problems, researchers from both groups of scientists agree that consuming at least five servings of any fruits and vegetables daily is important for overall nutrition and health.