Trendy Amazonian berry camu camu could boost weight loss by up to 50% by speeding up your metabolism

The trendy fruit camu camu could boost weight loss, new research suggests.

When given to mice being fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet, the rodents gained 50 per cent less weight than those not eating the Amazonian berry, according to an eight-week study published in the journal Gut.

The researchers, from Laval University, Québec, believe camu camu extract may boost a rodent's metabolism while it rests, leading to weight loss, with the same effects potentially occurring in humans.

The large berry, which looks a bit like a red grape, may also combat heart disease and diabetes, with results further suggesting the fruit improves mice's blood-sugar levels and improves their insulin resistance.

Camu camu, which contains 60 times more vitamin C than an orange and five times as many antioxidants as a serving of blueberries, is available as a supplement in the UK from just £6 for 60 capsules.

How the research was carried out

The researchers analysed overweight mice in the lab.

For eight weeks, the rodents were fed either a high-fat, high-sugar or a low-fat, low-sugar diet.

Half of the animals receiving the high-fat, high-sugar diet were also given camu camu extract.

Improved blood sugar levels and lowered inflammation

Results suggest that the mice fed camu camu extract gained 50 per cent less weight than the rodents eating the same high-fat, high-sugar diet.

In addition, the animals eating camu camu had healthier blood sugar levels, decreased insulin resistance and less gut inflammation.

Insulin resistance is the reduced ability of cells to respond to the hormone, which transports glucose out of the bloodstream and is associated with the onset of type 2 diabetes.

'Camu camu has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential'

Speaking of the findings, study author Dr André Marette said: 'The consumption of fruits is strongly associated with better health and higher bacterial diversity in the gut microbiota.

'Camu camu is an Amazonian fruit with a unique phytochemical profile, strong antioxidant potential and purported anti-inflammatory potential.'

The researchers noticed the mice receiving the camu camu experienced changes to their gut bacteria.

Dr Marette added: 'All these changes were accompanied by a reshaping of the intestinal microbiota, including a blooming of A. muciniphila and a significant reduction in Lactobacillus bacteria.'

The scientists therefore transferred gut bacteria from the mice who were fed camu camu into the intestines of germ-free rodents.

This partially and temporarily caused the latter animals to experience the same weight loss, blood sugar, insulin resistance and gut inflammation benefits as the mice who ate the berry.

The researchers stress it is unclear if camu camu causes weight loss or any other of the aforementioned benefits in humans, which they plan to investigate next.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter