Mangosteen juice may lower inflammation

NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- 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.