Effect of consumption of Brazilian berries on intestinal health: a systematic review of in vivo studies

Brazilian berries-such as jabuticaba, açaí, camu-camu, acerola, and other native species-have attracted growing interest due to their richness in polyphenols (anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic acids), vitamin C, dietary fiber, and other nutrients. Nevertheless, many of these fruits remain underexplored or poorly known in the scientific literature. This systematic review aimed to answer the following questions: "How does the consumption of Brazilian berries influence gut health in vivo?" and "What are the main mechanisms involved in this process?" A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases, following PRISMA guidelines. Fourteen studies were included, and the risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE tool. The main findings indicated improvements in gut microbiota balance, with increased populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and a reduction in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Beneficial effects were also observed on intestinal barrier integrity, including increased expression of Mucin-2 and Claudin-1, and maintenance of Zonula occludens-1 and Claudin-3 levels. An increased SCFA production, a reduction in intestinal inflammation, and modulation of oxidative stress were reported. These findings highlight the potential of Brazilian berries as allies in nutritional and therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting gut health. PROSPERO registration: CRD42024537558.