The Utah-based XanGo company, founded in 2002, got its start with the launch of its signature product, XanGo Juice. The juice comes from the fruit of a mangosteen tree, proclaimed by some to be the best tasting fruit in the world. Due to its recent introduction in the United States, there is limited evidence on the health benefits of the mangosteen or XanGo Juice, explains Medill Reports at Northwestern University.
Mangosteen Basics
The mangosteen tree, or Garcinia mangostana, originated in Southeast Asia and was favored by Queen Victoria. The fruit began its rise to fame in the United States when they appeared in a front-page article of the New York Times dining section in 2006. In 2007, the purple tangerine-shaped fruit was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture for import from Thailand.
Ingredients and Sizes
XanGo Juice comes in 25-oz. bottles or single-serving 1-oz. bottles. In addition to mangosteen puree, the juice contains apple, grape, pear, raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, strawberry and cherry juices. The XanGo company does not sell the products directly to consumers but through distributors instead. In addition to the XanGo Juice, the company also sells concentrated xanthone oil from the peel of the mangosteen for use on the skin.
Health Claims
According to the XanGo website, the plant polyphenols called xanthones found in XanGo Juice can help promote digestive health, boost the immune system, improve joint and cartilage function and promote respiratory health. An eight-week clinical study led by Jay Udani, M.D., C.P.I., and published on the XanGo website, tested the effects of XanGo Juice on the C-reactive protein, or CRP, levels of subjects. The study found reduced CRP levels over the course of eight weeks in subjects taking 3-, 6- or 9-oz. servings of XanGo Juice compared to placebo.
Controversy
The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to the XanGo company on September 20, 2006 warning the company that it could not label or promote XanGo Juice to cure, prevent or treat any disease. The warning came after FDA officials reviewed a company brochure stating that mangosteen juice could reduce inflammation, prevent atherosclerosis, bacterial infection, gum disease, cataracts, glaucoma, cancer, dementia and depression and reduce blood pressure, blood sugar, fever and cholesterol.
Proven Benefits
While the supposed health claims of XanGo Juice are not scientifically supported, the mangosteen fruit is rich in anti-oxidants that may play a role in preventing heart disease and cancer, says internist Brent A. Bauer, M.D., on MayoClinic.com.
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