For over 20 years, Duas Rodas has developed strong expertize in producing acerola powder rich in natural vitamin C, a microingredient essential for the maintenance of several physiological functions including immunomodulatory effects. In our portfolio you can find acerola extract containing up to 34% of this important vitamin! Click and discover more in this whitepaper about the acerola superfruit and all other benefits provided by the Vitamin C. Learn more at: http://bit.ly/2IblEig

1. The growing search for quality of life and longevity has
been influencing consumer behavior, focusing on products
and services related to health and well-being. Beneficial
effects to the body are increasingly correlated with
consumption of products of natural origin - sources of
vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and fibers, among others.
Natural products as fruits and vegetables are important
sources of essential nutrients and, due to the increased
demand for healthier and safer ingredients, they have
become excellent alternatives for replacing synthetic
compounds in different applications, such as
nutraceuticals, food supplements, ingredients and
additives (colorants, antioxidants etc.).
It has long been known that an individual's nutritional
status influences both their susceptibility to infections and
their clinical response in the recovery process. And in this
light, vitamins stand out as important allies for the proper
functioning of the human body's defense mechanisms
(ASLAM et al., 2017; WALSH, 2019).
By Karina Luize da Silva
and Tailyn Zermiani dos Santos
ACEROLA
VITALITY
AND STRENGTH
FOR A HEALTHIER
LIFE
THE KEY ROLE OF
VITAMINS IN THE SEARCH
FOR HEALTHINESS
VITAMIN C RELEVANCE IN
THE IMMUNE RESPONSE
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is found in abundance in
several fruits, such as orange, lemon, tomato and acerola
(BARTOSZ, 2014). Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin
with antioxidant action, a strong reducing, neutralizing
agent for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free
radicals (FRANKEL, 2012). Among the main benefits of
vitamin C in vivo is the improvement of the body's defense
functions against infections and allergic reactions (IQBAL;
KHATTAK, 2004).
Vitamin C is essential for the maintenance of several
physiological functions, in addition to influencing
different cellular and biochemical processes. Because
it is a highly effective antioxidant, it promotes protective
action on biomolecules, such
as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates
and nucleic acids, against damage
caused by oxidants of metabolic
or external origin, such as toxins
and pollutants. Vitamin C protects
human DNA from mutagenic
damage caused by free radicals.
Moreover, it assists absorption
of iron and anti-inflammatory
processes, in addition to actively
influencing formation and
maintenance of collagen.

2. Synthetic and natural Vitamins C are chemically
identical; however, some studies suggest that the
presence of other nutrients, such as minerals, fibers and
phytochemicals, could influence their bioavailability.
Several studies based on animal samples, attributed to
flavonoids the function of increasing the bioavailability
of Vitamin C (CARR; VISSERS, 2013).
Uchida et al., 2011, investigating the possibility of other
food components interaction in the ascorbic acid
absorption and excretion, compared the bioavailability of
ascorbic acid administered alone with that naturally
present in acerola juice. The results evidenced that
acerola juice promoted better plasma absorption for
ascorbic acid and minimized its excretion via the urine
when compared to ascorbic acid alone.
Mineralsa
Main nutrients found in acerola:
• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Potassium
a
National Reference Standard for the Nutrient Database of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, 2017); b
BELWAL et al.,2018.
Vitaminsa
Phenolicsb
• Phosphorus
• Zinc
• Sodium
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B6
• Thiamine
• Riboflavin
• Niacin
• Pantothenic acid
• Folate
• Anthocyanins Cyanidin
Pelargonidina
• Flavonides Apigenin Luteolin
• Flavonoids Kaempferol
Quercetin Miricetine
Acerola cherry (Malpighia emarginata) is known
as one of the greatest sources of L-ascorbic acid
(Vitamin C), up to 30 times more than orange, besides
other nutrients (Table 1), making it attractive and
increasingly popular in the human diet (MATTA et al.,
2004; MEZADRI et al., 2006).
The market demand for acerola has grown significantly
in recent years, not only in the natural food products
sector, but also as a source of ascorbic acid for
pharmaceutical purposes, due to its biological
potential, related to high levels of vitamin C and
presence of phenolic compounds (ASSIS et al., 2008).
ACEROLA: NATURAL
SOURCE OF VITAMIN C
The many benefits related to vitamin C
strongly confirm its immunomodulatory
effects; it has direct action on leukocytes
(neutrophils and monocytes), promoting
increased migration of these defense cells
against pathogens, increased phagocytosis
and defense against microorganisms, in
addition to favoring the inflammatory
response, mitigating tissue damage in the
process of necrosis. In vitro studies show
that vitamin C promotes proliferation of B
and T lymphocytes, resulting in improved
antibody generation. It appears to prevent
and treat respiratory and systemic
infections, improving various functions of
immune fibroblast cells (CARR; MAGGINI,
2017; LOPEZ-VARELA; GONZALEZ-GROSS;
MARCOS, 2002).

3. duasrodas.com
Karina Luize da Silva, Research & Development Specialist at Duas Rodas
Tailyn Zermiani dos Santos, Research & Development Analyst at Duas Rodas
References:
ASLAM, M. F.; MAJEED, S.; ASLAM, S.; IRFAN, J. A. Vitamins: Key Role Players in Boosting Up Immune Response-A Mini Review. Vitamins & Minerals, v. 6, n.1, p 1 -8 , 2017.
ASSIS, S. A.; PEDRO-FERNANDES, F.; MARTINS, A. B. G.; O. M. M. FARIA-OLIVEIRA. Acerola: importance, culture conditions, production and biochemical aspects. Fruits, v. 63, n. 2, p.
93-10, 2008.
BARTOSZ, G. Food Oxidants and Antioxidants Chemical, Biological, and Functional Properties, CRC Press, 2014, 570 p.
BELWAL, T.; DEVKOTA, H. P.; HASSAN, H. A.; AHLUWALIA, S.; RAMADA, M. F.; MOCAN, A.; ATANASOV, A. G. Phytopharmacology of Acerola (Malpighia spp.) and its potential as functional
food. Trends in Food Science & Technology, v. 74, p. 99-106, 2018.
CARR, A. C.; MAGGINI, S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients, v.9, n. 1211, 2017.
CARR, A. C.; VISSERS, M. C. M. Synthetic or Food-Derived Vitamin C—Are They Equally Bioavailable? Nutrients, v. 5, p.4284 - 4304, 2013.
DAVE, K. N.; PATIL, R. S. Biological Importance of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) in Human Health. International Journal For Research In Biology & Pharmacy. v. 3, n. 7, p. 1 - 8, 2017.
FRANKEL, E. N. Antioxidants in food and biology: Facts and fiction. 2 ed., 2012, 265 p.
IQBAL, K.; KHAN, A.; KHATTAK, M. A. K. Biological significance of ascorbic acid (vitamin c) in human health – a review. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, v. 3, n. 1, p. 5-13, 2004.
KAUR, S.; SANGHA, J. K. A Comparative Study of Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamin C Supplementation to Prevent Anemia. Journal of Scientific Research & Reports, v.15, n.1, p.1-13, 2017.
MATTA, V.M.; MORETTI, V.M.; CABRAL, L.M.C. Microfiltration and reverse osmosis for clarification and concentration of acerola juice. Journal of Food Engineering, v. 61, p. 477–482,
2004.
MEZADRI, T.; FERNÁNDEZ-PACHÓN, M. S.; VILLANO, D.; GARCIÁ-PARRILLA, M. C.; TRONCOSO, A. M. The acerola fruit: composition, productive characteristics and economic importance.
Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutrición, v. 56, n. 2, p. 101–109, 2006.
UCHIDA, E.; KONDO, Y.; AMANO, A.; AIZAWA, S.; HANAMURA, T.; AOKI, H.; NAGAMINE, K.; KOIZUMI, T.; MARUYAMA, N.; ISHIGAMI, A. Absorption and Excretion of Ascorbic Acid Alone and
in Acerola (Malpighia emarginata) Juice: Comparison in Healthy Japanese Subjects. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, v. 34, n.11, p.1744-1747, 2011.
USDA (National Nutrient Database for Standard). USDA.gov - United States Department of Agriculture. Available at:
<https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2120?n1=%7BQv%3D1%7D&fgcd=&man=&lfacet=&count=&max=50&sort=default&qlookup=acerola&offset=&format=Full&new=&measureby
=&Qv=1&ds=&qt=&qp=&qa=&qn=&q=&ing= >.
WALSH; N. P. Nutrition and Athlete Immune Health: New Perspectives on an Old Paradigm. Sports Medicine, v. 49, p. 153-168, 2019.
DUAS RODAS AS
YOUR STRATEGIC PARTNER
Brazilian biodiversity and the great scientific
advance involving chemical and pharmacological
studies of its species are fundamental factors in the
development of food products with high functional
appeal. Concerned with meeting the needs of food
industry professionals in the development of
healthy and functional products, we created
Fruittion: a product line composed of natural
extracts of native plants from Latin America,
standardized in their respective active principles.
Duas Rodas’ strategic advantages and reasons to
be your partner of choice:
• Locally sourced raw material through long-term
local partnerships
• Vertical integration from fruit to powder
• Over 90 years of agronomy and processing experience
• Multiple product certifications (Organic, Halal, Kosher)
• Local presence in all steps until final product delivery,
ensuring best sourcing conditions and stability of
supply throughout the year
For more information contact: duasrodas.com