NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Oct 19, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Mangosteen juice has
anti-inflammatory properties which could help prevent heart disease and diabetes
in obese patients, U.S. researchers said.
Mangosteen is a tropical fruit, not related to the mango, and is rare in the
produce sections of grocery stores in North America and Europe, but available
frozen or canned.
A study, published in Nutrition Journal, said the juice of the exotic
"superfruit" lowered levels of C-reactive protein -- a biomarker for
inflammation.
Dr. Jay Udani of Medicus Research in Northridge, Calif., worked with a team of
researchers to carry out a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial.
"For people drinking over half a liter of mangosteen juice a day, the degree of
reduction in C-reactive protein levels was statistically significant -- a
reduction of 1.33mg/L compared to an increase of 0.9mg/L in the placebo group,"
Udani said in a statement. "Further studies with a larger population are
required to confirm and further define the benefits of this juice, which was
safe at all dosages tested."
The American Journal of Kidney Disease published a case study of a possible
adverse effect from chronic consumption of mangosteen juice containing
xanthones. A patient suffered severe acidosis -- low blood pH -- possibly
attributable to a year of daily use to lose weight, the case study said.
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