INFO - Mangosteen for arthritis?

January 29, 2006

Arthritis Today

May-June 2005

On Call

Medical Questions and Answers

Q: Mangosteen juice is pretty expensive at doses recommended for arthritis.

Before making the investment, I would like to know if it might help.

A: Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a tasty tropical fruit. Its juice,

marketed under the name Xango juice, is one of the latest

multilevel-marketed substances that claims to treat a number of disorders

including arthritis, diarrhea, menstrual problems, urinary tract disorders,

tuberculosis and skin diseases.

Might it help your arthritis? It's hard to say. According to the Natural

Medicines Comprehensive Database, there is insufficient reliable information

about the safety and effectiveness of mangosteen. But that doesn't mean the

juice is not safe -- nor that it isn't helpful for some people. The fruit

has antioxidants, tannins and other unknown ingredients that might be

helpful for OA as well as other conditions.

If you want to give it a shot, try it for four to six weeks and see if you

notice any improvement. It might help, and it probably couldn't hurt -- at

least not anything but your wallet. As you say, the juice is expensive. Even

if the juice does help, I think you could find more cost-effective ways to

get the same results. For instance, pain-relieving medications such as

acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); relaxation

techniques and the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin might

help as well.

JAMES MCKOY, MD

Rheumatologist

05_06_OnCall_p2.asp

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

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