The tropical fruit manogsteen, thought to be Queen Victoria's favorite fruit, is touted for its healthful properties and is included in several fruit juice products. One of the claims made for mangosteen is that it can help promote weight loss. Although preliminary evidence shows some potential benefits, scientific research doesn't support weight-loss claims.
Identification
Manosteen is a fruit native to Southeast Asia and is the size of a small apple, although its hard rind is colored purple. It has five to seven seeds inside surrounded by a sweet, juicy cover and pulp that tastes similar to a pineapple or peach. It's full of its antioxidants, particularly chemicals known as xanthones. In Asia, mangosteen is sometimes called the queen of fruits for its flavor and economic value.
Significance
The American Cancer Society reports that mangosteen extracts have produced several promising results in laboratory tests, including preventing bacteria and fungi from growing and slowing the growth of certain cancer cells. The ACS is quick to point out, however, that these effects haven't been tested in humans. One of the research studies, funded by a manogsteen juice manufacturer, claims that mangosteen juice stimulates the production of enzymes linked to increased energy and fat metabolism and has the potential to be used as a weight-loss aid.
Expert Insight
Scientists have shown a link between obesity, chronic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance. Research by Akkarach Bumrungpert and colleagues, published in June 2009 in the Journal of Nutrition, demonstrated in lab cultures that mangosteen reduced inflammation and insulin resistance in human fat cells. The team was encouraged by the findings but cautioned that the results needed to be verified in animal studies. Inflammation is often measured by levels of C-reactive protein, with high levels increasing your risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of disorders that can include obesity. An industry-sponsored study published in Nutrition Journal in October of 2009 found that people who drank over half a liter of mangosteen juice a day had a statistically significant reduction in their CRP levels, a decrease of 1.33 mg/L compared to an increase of 0.9 mg/L in the placebo group.
Considerations
In Asia, the rinds of mangosteen fruits are steeped in water to make tea, although in the U.S., manogsteen is included primarily in juice or puree form or in capsules and tablets, available at health food stores. Because the antioxidant xanthones are found in the husk and not the fruit, mangosteen husk powder may be added to the juice. This makes the product thicker and will requiring shaking of the bottle before consuming to mix the juice and powder together. Extracts added to products can include anywhere from 5 percent to 25 percent xanthones, but it's not yet known which potency is optimal for weight loss and health benefits. You can also find pure mangosteen juice made from puree, although it's typically quite expensive.
Warning
The only reported ill effects from manogsteen as of November 2010 was one daily user of mangosteen juice who developed lactic acidosis, an acidic blood condition. In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned a vendor of manogsteen juice that it couldn't market its product as a treatment for a variety of illnesses. You should be wary of any claims that mangosteen has been proven to have health benefits in humans, even weight loss.
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