The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 25.8 million people in this country currently suffer from diabetes, and with another 79 million Americans age 20 and older suffering from pre-diabetes, the incidence could increase to close to 1-in-3 by the year 2050. These staggering numbers have health officials and patients searching for interventions in both pharmaceuticals and alternative medicines. XanGo, a juice manufactured by XanGo, Inc., consists of mangosteen fruit puree, which contains xanthones that produce biological activity in the body that could positively impact factors involved with Type 2 diabetes. Although this is marketed as an all-natural product, you should consult your doctor before drinking the juice, or taking any over-the-counter substance to protect your health.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high levels of sugar, or glucose, in the blood. Your digestive system breaks food down into tiny particles your body can absorb through the walls of the small intestine. Carbohydrates break down into glucose, a simple sugar molecule the body uses for energy. Although all cells need glucose to function, they can only absorb and use the glucose in the presence of insulin -- a hormone produced by the pancreas. As the level of glucose in the blood rises, the pancreas produces and secretes insulin. The insulin binds to receptors on the cells and activates other receptors that allow the cell to bind to and absorb the glucose. Diabetes occurs when your body either fails to produce insulin, known as Type 1 diabetes, or the insulin fails to work effectively, which describes Type 2 diabetes.
Xanthones
Plants contain phytonutrients -- chemical compounds that can protect against disease. Many different phytonutrients have shown promise in protecting against chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. The mangosteen fruit contains a type of phytonutrient known as a xanthone. Research published in the "Mini Review of Organic Chemistry" in May 2008 revealed that xanthones exhibited antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant biological activity. Inflammation plays a role in obesity and can lead to metabolic syndrome, a precursor to the onset of diabetes.
Inflammation and Obesity
Obesity, a condition of excess body fat, increases your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. The excess fat adversely affects your blood pressure, lipid levels and insulin resistance, leading to chronic diseases like heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Research published in the October 2008 issue of the "Nutrition Journal" linked obesity to inflammation. The study showed that increased fat deposits caused an increase in C-reactive protein, a protein produced in response to inflammation. The xanthones in XanGo juice exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect and the decrease in inflammation can aid in weight loss. Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight can prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. And it can help you control the disease without the need for insulin administration, if you already have this condition.
Glucosidase Inhibitor
Although much of the research on Type 2 diabetes focuses on insulin, some scientists continue to look for other ways to treat or prevent diabetes. One study published in the "International Journal of Integrative Biology" in 2009 focused on the enzyme alpha-glucosidase. Alpha-glucosidase increases the reactions involved with digesting carbohydrates into glucose. Slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose can help you regulate blood sugar levels if you have Type 2 diabetes. Xanthones, like those found in XanGo juice, inhibit the activity of alpha-glucosidase, which lowers blood sugar levels and helps control Type 2 diabetes.
Caution
Although XanGo juice contains xanthones that can exhibit biological activity and xanthones may provide beneficial health effects, the juice is not classified as a pharmaceutical, which means it cannot make claims to cure, treat or prevent disease. In 2006 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a warning letter to the company advising them to stop making specific health claims, such as that the juice lowers blood sugar. The study published in the "Nutrition Journal" shows that the juice is safe to consume and produces no adverse effects. So, although it cannot state it will prevent or cure Type 2 diabetes, it will not hurt to incorporate it into your healthy lifestyle. But talk it over with your physician first.
References
- "International Journal of Integrative Biology"; 3D-QSAR Studies of Xanthone Derivatives as Human Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitors; Saqib, U. and Siddiqi, M.; October 2008
- "Mini Review of Organic Chemistry"; Structural Characterization, Biological Effects, and Synthetic Studies on Xanthones from Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), a Popular Botanical Dietary Supplement; Chin, Y. and Kinghorn, A.; November 2008
- "Nutrition Journal"; Evaluation of Mangosteen Juice Blend on Biomarkers of Inflammation in Obese Subjects: a Pilot, Dose Finding Study; Undani, J. et al.; October 2009
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2011
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA Warning Letter; Collins, B.; October 2006
