Mangosteen juice has anti-inflammatory properties which could prove to be valuable in preventing the development of heart disease and diabetes in obese patients. A study describes how the juice of the exotic ‘superfruit’ lowered levels of C-reactive protein. Elevated levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with development of type 2 diabetes.
Researchers carried out a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial. They found that for people drinking over half a liter of mangosteen juice a day, the degree of reduction in CRP levels was statistically significant, a reduction of 1.33mg/L compared to an increase of 0.9mg/L in the placebo group.
Inflammation, as measured here by CRP, is a predictor of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and a precursor of metabolic syndrome. Reducing inflammation in obese people is a treatment goal, and a natural treatment may be preferable to other treatments which may carry the risk of side effects.
References:
1. Jay K Udani, et al. Evaluation of Mangosteen juice blend on biomarkers of inflammation in obese subjects: a pilot, dose finding study. Nutrition Journal 2009, 8:48doi:10.1186/1475-2891-8-48.
2. Pradhan AD, Manson JE, Rifai N, Buring JE, Ridker PM. C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. JAMA. 2001 Jul 18;286(3):327-34. PMID: 11466099.
