Acerola
Summary
Acerola cherries contain about 1,680 mg of vitamin C per 100 g, and acerola powder is sold as a natural vitamin C source. Human research on acerola itself is very thin: one absorption study and one small uncontrolled study in athletes (grade D). Its safety limits follow vitamin C's 2,000 mg/day adult UL.
Key facts
- Acerola juice with 50 mg vitamin C gave a plasma curve that tended to be higher (not statistically significant) and less early urinary loss than plain ascorbic acid[4]
- One 3-week uncontrolled study in 22 athletes; no placebo-controlled trial of acerola for any health outcome was found[5][6]
- Adult UL for vitamin C from all sources is 2,000 mg/day, set to avoid diarrhea and other gut effects[1]
- 1 graded human outcome on this page
- October 13, 2026
How it works
ProposedAcerola's effects are expected to come mainly from its vitamin C, which is needed for collagen synthesis and immune function and acts as an antioxidant. Its polyphenols are studied in the lab; their role in people is not established.[1][6]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolic, oxidative stress and immune markers in elite athletes | Mixed | Grade D | Open-label trial · n = 22 · 2025 Elite endurance athletes, mean age 24 (Czech Republic) Form: Acerola fruit pulp · Dose: 300 g/day of pulp · Duration: 3 weeks Oxidative stress markers did not change. Serum immunoglobulins and some inflammatory markers fell, as did glucose, urea, ALT and AST. | 41269386 (opens PubMed)Source [5] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acerola fruit or juice powder (capsules or loose) | Varies[2][3] | In one human study, vitamin C from diluted acerola juice tended to reach a higher plasma level (not statistically significant) than the same 50 mg of plain ascorbic acid, with less excreted in the first hours.[4] | No adverse effects are described in the cited human study abstracts; vitamin C above the UL can cause diarrhea, nausea and cramps.[1][4] | Vitamin C absorption study |
| Acerola fruit pulp | Varies[5] | Not compared head to head with supplements in people.[5] | The athlete study abstract does not report side effects; its authors note chronic-use safety still needs assessment.[5] | One 3-week study in athletes (300 g/day) |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from a single dose of acerola juice providing 50 mg of vitamin C to 300 g/day of acerola pulp for 3 weeks. No study tested acerola supplement capsules for a health outcome.[4][5]
Intake reference: Acerola is a vitamin C source. Adult RDA: 90 mg/day for men and 75 mg/day for women; 85 mg in pregnancy and 120 mg while breastfeeding (ages 19+). People who smoke need 35 mg/day more. Adult UL: 2,000 mg/day of vitamin C.[1] The UL applies to vitamin C from food and supplements and is set to avoid diarrhea and other gastrointestinal effects. It does not apply to people receiving vitamin C under medical care. NIH ODS fact sheet (updated July 31, 2025).
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Medicines
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapyNIH fact sheetAntioxidant use during cancer therapy is controversial: some data suggest vitamin C might protect tumor cells, others that it protects normal tissue. ODS advises discussing it with the oncology team.[1]
- Statins with niacinNIH fact sheetVitamin C with other antioxidants may blunt the HDL rise from simvastatin plus niacin.[1]
Other supplements
- Iron (nonheme)NIH fact sheetVitamin C enhances nonheme iron absorption; not a concern for healthy people, but high intakes could worsen iron overload in hereditary hemochromatosis.[1]
Who should be careful
- Hereditary hemochromatosis
- Chronic high vitamin C intakes could worsen iron overload in people with this condition.[1]
- Kidney stones
- High vitamin C intakes can raise urinary oxalate; the clearest link to stones is in people with pre-existing hyperoxaluria or kidney disorders.[1]
- Cancer therapy
- People having chemotherapy or radiation should discuss vitamin C sources with their oncology team.[1]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Food sources
How to read the label
- Look for vitamin C per servingAcerola labels should state vitamin C in mg; that number, not the grams of powder, is what to compare with the 75–90 mg adult RDA and the 2,000 mg UL.[1]
- Label dose vs studied doseThe only absorption study used acerola juice providing 50 mg of vitamin C; no trial tested a capsule dose for a health outcome.[4][6]
Cost per studied dose, without the sales pitch
Compare any product you already have by the amount it delivers, not by capsule count or front-of-pack weight.
Cost per studied dose
Enter the price, servings and the amount per serving from your label.
Frequently asked questions
How much vitamin C is in acerola?
USDA lists 1,680 mg of vitamin C per 100 g of raw acerola and 1,600 mg per 100 g of raw juice.[2][3]
Is acerola vitamin C better than ascorbic acid?
Not clearly. One small study found a non-significant trend toward higher blood levels from acerola juice, but ODS says supplement ascorbic acid is as bioavailable as vitamin C in food.[1][4]
Does acerola boost immunity?
No placebo-controlled trial has tested acerola for immune outcomes. An uncontrolled 3-week study in 22 athletes found lower immunoglobulins and some inflammatory markers.[5]
Can you get too much vitamin C from acerola?
Yes, in principle. The adult UL is 2,000 mg/day of vitamin C from all sources; above it, diarrhea, nausea and cramps become more likely.[1]
Who should be careful with acerola?
People with hereditary hemochromatosis, a history of oxalate kidney stones, or who are having chemotherapy or radiation, because of its high vitamin C content.[1]
Sources
- [1]Vitamin C: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, 2025. fact-sheet
- [2]Acerola, (west indian cherry), raw (FDC ID 171686). USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy), 2019. database
- [3]Acerola juice, raw (FDC ID 171687). USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy), 2019. database
- [4]Absorption and excretion of ascorbic acid alone and in acerola (Malpighia emarginata) juice: comparison in healthy Japanese subjects.. Biol Pharm Bull, 2011. PK-study
- [5]The Effect of Acerola Intake on Metabolic and Immunological Parameters in Elite Athletes.. Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 2025. open-label
- [6]Acerola and Its By-Products as Sources of Bioactive Compounds: Phytochemical Profile and Biological Effects in Experimental and Clinical Studies.. Molecules, 2026. review
What changed
- Independent review: the 2011 absorption study reported only a non-significant trend toward a higher plasma AUC; wording no longer implies better absorption. All PMIDs re-checked.
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title and year taken from the record) and abstracts read for the cited rows. ODS vitamin C fact sheet (updated July 31, 2025) read for the RDA, UL, interactions and cautions; USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy records 171686 and 171687 checked via the FDC API for vitamin C content. Uchida 2011 sample size is not stated in the abstract or full text, so it is used only for the absorption note, not as an evidence row. Page set indexable.