Tahitian Noni juice isn't a cure-all for serious diseases like cancer, although marketers of the juice may tell you differently. The bark, roots and stems of the noni tree are used in traditional Polynesian medicine, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI. Noni extract is being studied to determine if it has cancer-fighting potential. However, most health claims associated with Tahitian Noni juice should be taken with a grain of salt.
About the Noni Fruit
Noni, or Morinda citrifolia, also goes by other common names, such as Indian mulberry, cheese fruit, hog apple and wild pine. Noni has a traditional use as a topical preparation for joint pain and diseases of the skin. Tahitian Noni juice is marketed as a health tonic. The CSPI notes that some doctors give noni supplements -- not noni juice -- to patients with cancer that has progressed beyond the point of treatment. However, there's no conclusive proof that Tahitian Noni juice can prevent, treat or cure cancer or any other ailment.
Noni Juice
CSPI points out that Tahitian Noni juice is a product sold by multilevel marketers and it criticized salespeople in October 2006 who were captured on camera by a CBS affiliate stating that the juice "tastes just like money." Marketers made other assertions about Tahitian Noni, inferring that it cured dementia, blindness and lupus. Noni juice is described as having a foul taste and unpleasant smell by CSPI and MayoClinic.com. Morinda Inc., the company that distributes Tahitian Noni juice, was the subject of a multistate lawsuit in 1998 for making unsubstantiated health claims about its product. The company was required to issue a refund in full to all consumers who bought the juice, as well as pay $100,000 in additional fees.
Cancer Research
The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states that most of the fruit's purported health benefits are unproven -- at least in humans. Animal studies indicate that noni extract may have antitumor properties; it also appears to be an antifungal and immune system enhancer. Results of a single study on noni juice was published in the 2009 issue of "Nutrition and Cancer." University of Illinois-Chicago researchers determined that heavy smokers may reduce their risk of cancer by drinking a 1- to 4-oz. serving of Tahitian Noni juice daily. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine continues to fund research that investigates the cancer-fighting properties of noni.
Cautions
If you have cancer, you need specialized treatment from your doctor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes that alleged cancer cures are rampant on the Internet, and it can be easy to fall prey to health fraud. Mayo Clinic cardiologist Thomas Behrenbeck states that there's no proof that noni juice can cure any specific ailment. Noni juice is rich in potassium and may not be appropriate for people with kidney disease or those who take specific blood pressure medications. Don't rely on Tahitian Noni juice as a cure for your health problems. Talk to your treating physician before using any alternative or complementary treatment.
References
- Center for Science in the Public Interest; Super Fruit: Squeezing Cold Cash ... ; D. Schardt; November 2006
- National Center Against Health Fraud: Attorneys General Curb Claims for "Tahitian Noni"
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Noni
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Noni
- MayoClinic.com; Noni Juice: Can It Reduce Cholesterol?; T. Behrenbeck, M.D.; May 2010
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA 101: Health Fraud Awareness
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