Noni supplement health benefit by, juice and capsule supplement, a cure all or just a healthy drink? Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Over the last two decades, a growing number of people have become interested in the medicinal uses of noni juice, made from the fruit of the Indian mulberry (Morinda citrifolia) of the South Pacific Islands of Tahiti, and more recently from Hawaii. Noni has been used in folk remedies by Polynesians for over 2000 years, and is reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, antihelminth, analgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, and immune enhancing effects. Noni juice is also promoted to enhance energy and wellbeing. Does modern noni research support these claims?
Chemistry and contents, ingredientsbuy Noni Supplement capsules
Noni
grows extensively throughout the South Pacific, and was at one time the most
widely used medicinal plant in the region. This evergreen shrub grows especially
well in the rich volcanic ash of Hawaii.
Supplement Facts
Noni (Morinda citrifolia) (fruit) 300 mg
Freeze Dried Hawaiian
Suggested Use: As an herbal dietary supplement, take one noni capsule 1 or 2
times daily.
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You will also find additional antioxidant fruit extracts, including
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Benefit
of juice or noni extract
What is the benefit of noni juice or supplement products, anyway? Claims have been made that noni fruit juice or noni extract improves the immune system, ultimately
healing dozens of conditions ranging from addictions to varicose veins and yeast rash.
What does the scientific research say about the benefit of noni juice and
extract supplement?
Cancer influence
Noni fruit juice contains a polysaccharide-rich substance called noni-ppt
with anti-tumor activity. In a study performed at the University of Hawaii, administration
of noni-ppt significantly enhanced the duration of survival of mice with lung tumor. The
researchers say, "This suggests possible clinical applications of noni-ppt as a
supplemental agent in cancer treatment." No long term human trials are
available to tell us whether it is useful as a cancer
treatment or for prevention.
Morinda citrifolia noni reduces cancer risk in current
smokers by decreasing aromatic DNA adducts.
Nutr Cancer. 2009.
Quantitative determination of aromatic DNA adducts in peripheral blood
lymphocytes (PBLs) of current smokers is an useful surrogate biomarker for the
evaluation of environmental carcinogen exposure or chemopreventive intervention.
In this study, we examined the impact of Tahitian Noni Juice (TNJ) on the
aromatic DNA adducts of PBLs, before and after a 1-mo intervention. Aromatic DNA
adducts levels in all participants were significantly reduced by 44 after
drinking 1 to 4 oz of TNJ for 1 mo. Dose-dependent analyses of aromatic DNA
adduct levels showed reductions of 49% in the 1-oz TNJ group and 37% in the 4-oz
TNJ group. The results suggest that drinking 1 to 4 oz of Tahitian Noni Juice
daily may reduce the cancer risk in heavy cigarette smokers by blocking
carcinogen-DNA binding or excising DNA adducts from genomic DNA.
Noni and cholesterol
Reductions in total cholesterol and triglycerides have been seen in smokers who
drank a product containing juice from the fruit
every day for a month. The study was funded by the manufacturer of the product,
sold as Tahitian Noni Juice. Researcher Mian-Ying Wang, MD, says she first
became interested in studying this in 1999 after becoming convinced that
it helped reduce her pain from a wrist fracture.
Noni and diabetes, blood sugar control
In Java, noni fruit has been part of the treatment for
diabetes. Most
of the folk uses for diabetes involve chewing the leaves or a combination of the plant and
leaves. Chewing mulberry leaves releases and activates large amounts of mucilage or
insoluble dietary fiber. The fiber may slow the absorption of simple sugars from the gut.
The effect in most patients would be a slight reduction in the peak glucose level
following a meal.
Energy enhancement
Evaluation of the ergogenic potential of noni juice.
Phytother Res. 2007.
Traditionally, noni
fruit was used by Polynesians to combat fatigue. Clinical studies have revealed
that consumption improves quality of life scores related to physical
functioning and energy levels. To further evaluate the ergogenic (antifatigue
and endurance promoting) potential of noni juice, aged mice were pretreated
orally with increasing doses (10, 20 and 40 mL/kg body weight) of Tahitian Noni
Juice and then compared with young and aged controls in the forced swim test and
rotarod test. The average times of all Tahitian noni juice dose groups were
significantly longer than the aged controls in both the swim test (36% to 45%)
and the rotarod test (59% to 128%), and were similar to those of the young
controls. This demonstrates not only an improvement in endurance but also in
balance and flexibility. These results confirm the its reported use to
combat fatigue, improve endurance and increase overall physical performance.
Infections and immune system
Infections are the most common applications. The extract from the leaves (not the fruit) displayed a moderate suppression of Ascaris lumbricoides (intestinal
nematodes) growth in the test tube. However, noni juice has not been shown to improve
infections once symptoms have manifested, although there are anecdotal reports of patients
feeling better from mild infections after using it. Decoctions of the leaves or roots of
related mulberry species may have some suppressive effect on parasitic infections.
Noni and pain
relief
The treatment of pain, painful inflammation and swellings are a common usage.
Studies in mice have demonstrated that extracts from the root (again, not rendered from the fruit) have some pain relieving and
sedative activity.
Weight loss
I doubt if noni juice or drink has weight loss
potential.
Side effects of noni supplement and juice
In some regions of the world noni and other mulberry species are used as a
laxative. Predictably, some patients using higher concentrations of noni juice may
experience some diarrhea. Although the risk of long-term adverse reactions is not
currently known, it should be very low, because of the long history of mulberry species as
a food in wide geographic regions. Patients with diabetes would be wise to find out the
amount of sugars used to sweeten the particular product they wish to use.
There have been two reported cases in the medical
literature (both in Austria) regarding liver damage due to excessive noni juice consumption. As
with any herb, it is best to use low amounts. I prefer using small amounts of
different herbs as opposed to a large amount of a single herb. I also think that
some herbs are healthy to ingest in small amounts, yet they have a potential to
be harmful if used in excessive dosages. There is a possibility that noni itself
was not the problem in these cases, but something else in the juice.
Noni juice (Morinda citrifolia): hidden potential for
hyperkalemia?
Am J Kidney Dis. 2000.
We report the case of a man with chronic renal insufficiency who self-medicated
with an alternative medicine product known as noni juice.
The patient presented to the clinic with hyperkalemia despite claiming adherence
to a low-potassium diet. The potassium concentration in noni juice samples was
determined and found to be 56 mEq/L, similar to that in orange juice and
tomato juice. Herbal remedies and alternative medicine products may be
surreptitious sources of potassium in patients with renal disease.
Availability
The noni fruit is available as juice and extract supplement capsules. You
will also find Tahitian and Hawaiian
noni juice. I'm not aware if there are any significant differences between the two.
Noni dosage
Suggested dosage is one or two capsules per day, taken with a few ounces of water. Three capsules are equivalent to about two tablespoons of liquid noni juice. A
concentrated form of the juice is also available. It is often mixed with other fruit
juices because of its unpleasant taste.
Review and summary
At this point, there are few scientific data to support the use of
a noni extract or
juice as a substitute for any standard medical treatment. Patients who are looking for
additional help in treating mild infections, cancer or chronic pain could try
it, realizing that the benefits are likely to be minimal. Perhaps future
research will give us additional clues to the potential therapeutic benefits for cancer, diabetes, immune deficiency or other conditions. In
the meantime, due to its content of various nutrients, noni juice and
supplements are healthy to
consume as part of an overall balanced diet. However, we discourage high dose use for prolonged periods
until more long term human research is available.
Does noni cause harm to the liver
or cause hepatitis?
There have been some reports that of
liver harm, but this matter has been disputed.
Hepatotoxicity of noni juice: report of two cases.
World J Gastroenterol. 2005.
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University Graz, Austria.
Noni juice (Morinda citrifolia) is an increasingly popular wellness
drink claimed to be beneficial for many illnesses. No overt toxicity has been
reported to date. We present two cases of novel hepatotoxicity of noni juice.
Causality of liver injury by noni juice was asses-sed. Routine laboratory tests
and transjugular or percutaneous liver biopsy were performed. The first patient
underwent successful liver transplantation while the second patient recovered
spontaneously after cessation of noni juice. A 29-year-old man with previous
toxic hepatitis associated with small doses of paracetamol developed sub-acute
hepatic failure following consumption of 1.5 L noni juice over 3 wk
necessitating urgent liver transplantation. A 62-year-old woman without evidence
of previous liver disease developed an episode of self-limited acute hepatitis
following consumption of 2 L noni juice for over 3 mo. The most likely
hepatotoxic components of Morinda citrifolia were anthraquinones. Physicians
should be aware of potential hepatotoxicity of noni juice.
No damage to liver
World J Gastroenterol. 2006.
Research and Development Department, Tahitian Noni International, American Fork,
UT 84003, USA.
Noni juice has been approved for use as a safe food within the European Union,
following a review of safety. Since approval, three cases of acute hepatitis in
Austrian noni juice consumers have been published, where a causal link is
suggested between the liver dysfunction and ingestion of anthraquinones from the
plant. Measurements of liver function in a human clinical safety study of
Tahitian Noni Juice, as well as subacute and subchronic animal toxicity tests
revealed no evidence of adverse liver effects at doses many times higher than
those reported in the case studies. Additionally, noni anthraquinones occur in
the fruit in quantities too small to be of any toxicological significance. The
available data reveals no evidence of liver toxicity.
2006 - The European Union's food safety agency EFSA has found no "convincing evidence" of a link between noni juice and four reported cases of hepatitis in Austria and Germany. Noni juice, made from the fruit of the Morinda Citrifolia plant, sometimes known as the Indian Mulberry, hit shelves across Europe after it was authorized by the European Commission in 2003 for the market. Austria's health and food safety body sounded a warning in 2005 after three acute hepatitis cases were reported. EFSA said its expert panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies examined the Austrian and Germany cases in which the people who consumed noni juice later came down with hepatitis. "The NDA Panel came to the conclusion that there is no convincing evidence for a causal relationship between the acute hepatitis observed in the case reports and the consumption of noni juice," EFSA said in a statement. "On the basis of the available information, it is unlikely that consumption of noni juice at the observed levels of intake induces adverse human liver effects," it said.
Use in pregnancy, caution
Dec 28.Delayed ossification in Wistar rats induced by Morinda citrifolia
exposure during pregnancy.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2010.
Different products of plant Morinda citrifolia have been marketed and
used around the world based on properties described by Polynesian people that
use them for more than 2000 years. Marketing of these products is based on their
presumptive phytotherapic properties. However there is little scientific
evidence about their safety, especially when used during pregnancy. Evaluate the
possible developmental toxicity of the noni fruit aqueous extract and commercial
product of TAHITIAN NONI juice in rats exposed during pregnancy. Pregnant Wistar
rats were exposed by gavage to 7, 30 and 300 mg/kg bw (body weight) of noni
aqueous extract or to 0.4, 2 and 20 mL/kg bw (body weight) of noni juice between
day 7 and day 15 of pregnancy. Exposure with extract and juice of Morinda
citrifolia did not induce maternal toxicity at the tested doses, but induced
delayed ossification in fetuses. The exposure of pregnant rats to aqueous
extract or juice Morinda citrifolia during organogenesis period may induce
adverse effects on the normal development of fetuses. These findings indicate
the need for further studies with noni derivates preceding their use in pregnant
women.
Research study
Inhibition of angiogenic initiation and disruption of
newly established human vascular networks by juice from Morinda citrifolia.
Angiogenesis. 2003.
Noni, the juice of the fruit from the Morinda citrifolia plant, has been used
for centuries as a medicinal agent. We tested the effects of noni juice in a
three-dimensional fibrin clot matrix model using human placental vein and human
breast tumor explants as sources for angiogenic vessel development. Noni in
concentrations of 5% (vol/vol) or greater was highly effective in inhibiting the
initiation of new vessel sprouts from placental vein explants, compared with
initiation in control explants in media supplemented with an equivalent amount
of saline. These concentrations of noni were also effective in reducing the
growth rate and proliferation of newly developing capillary sprouts. When used
at a concentration of 10% in growth media, noni was able to induce vessel
degeneration and apoptosis in wells with established capillary networks within a
few days of its application. We also found that 10% noni juice in media was an
effective inhibitor of capillary initiation in explants from human breast
tumors. In tumor explants which did show capillary sprouting, the vessels
rapidly degenerated (2-3 days) in those exposed to media supplemented with 10%
noni.
From Polynesian healers to health food stores: changing perspectives of
Morinda citrifolia.
Integr Cancer Ther. 2002.
Morinda citrifolia is one of the most important traditional
Polynesian medicinal plants. Remedies from isolated Polynesian cultures, such as
that of Rotuma, illustrate traditional indications that focus upon leaves,
roots, bark, and green fruit, primarily for topical ailments. Anecdotally
collected Hawaiian remedies that employ noni fruit illustrate changing usage
patterns with shifts in recent times to preparation of juice made of ripe or
decaying fruit. Ralph M. Heinicke promoted a wide range of claims about noni,
and these seem to have fueled much of the current commercial interest in the
plant. Recent studies of the proliferation of commercial products have shown
that noni product manufacturers are promoting a range of therapeutic claims.
These claims are based upon traditional Polynesian uses, Heinicke's ideas, and
fragments of recent scientific studies including the activity of noni in the
treatment of cancer. A review is provided of recent studies of potential
anticancer activity of noni fruit. While noni's anticancer potential is still
being explored, it continues to be widely used by Polynesians and
non-Polynesians alike for both traditional and newly hypothesized indications.
Other names
Ba Ji Tian, Bois Douleur, Canarywood, Cheese Fruit, Hai Ba Ji, Hog Apple, Indian
Mulberry, Jus de Noni, Luoling, Mengkudu, Menkoedoe, Mora de la India, Mūre
Indienne, Nhau, Nono, Nonu, Pau-Azeitona, Ruibarbo Caribe, Ura, Wild Pine, and
Wu Ning.
Emails
Q. I came across a web site that claimed noni juice can treat or cure cancer, hypertension, sinusitis, ulcers,
depression, lupus, herpes, hepatitis and heart disease. Is this true?
A. There is no such research in humans that we could
find that supports these various claims.
Q. Is the benefit of Tahitian noni more than other
types from other islands such as Hawaiian?
A. More important than which island it is from is how it is grown
and prepared and how clean the manufacturing process and the reliability of the
company selling it. Whether it is from Tahiti or from Hawaii most likely makes little difference in
practical terms.
Q. Is morinda noni drink different that noni juice ?
A. There are dozens of companies, national and
international, that make various products. Each company's product,
whether juice or drink, is likely to be slightly or moderately
different in terms of composition. Whether for practical purposes this makes any
differences as far as the health benefit of noni product, this is difficult to
say.
Q. Is noni a scam ? I hear so much about everything
that it is supposed to heal. I don't know whether I should buy noni juice or
whether it is a scam.
A. Yes and no. Noni probably has some health benefit,
but it is too early to say what the benefits are. However, it is a scam to make
all kinds of healing claims when little human research is available.
Q. I am contacting you in an attempt to get
information on the noni juice which I have been made aware will provide relief
from this malicious disease. My brother in law in Switzerland recently has been
diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They have gone in and relieved the fluids from
his pancreas. They are considering chemo depending on the test results and his
present health condition. Do you think noni juice will help? If so how may we
obtain the noni juice? What is the recommended noni juice dosage? and of course
what is the cost associated with noni juice?
A. There are no studies with noni juice and pancreatic cancer,
therefore not much can be said on this topic.
Q. Do you have any noni testimonials?
A. We have had some people email us noni testimonials
but we suspected they were suppliers or sellers and the testimonials
did not seem to be believable. We are still waiting for a reliable testimonial
to be emailed to us.
Q. Have you tried herbal noni tea?
A. Not yet but I suspect herbal noni tea would not be
pleasant tasting unless it is mixed with other herbs.
Q. I understand that you are somehow involved in the
distribution / purchasing / marketing or writing about noni products. Have you
heard about the recent bad publicity noni products are receiving? According to a
website, the American Cancer Society has published information about the Noni
Plant and concludes that "there is no scientific evidence that noni juice is
effective in preventing or treating cancer or any other disease". The
information also mentions that "proponents claim that the noni fruit and its
juice can be used to treat cancer, diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol, high
blood
pressure, HIV, rheumatism, psoriasis, allergies, infection, and inflammation".
The final conclusion and advice is that "the safety and long-term effects of
noni juice and other noni products are not known. However, relying on this type
of treatment alone, and avoiding conventional medical care, may have serious
health consequences".
A. Everybody has their own opinion about noni, and we stand by the information on this web page.
Q. I have been taking noni juice for over a month at the rate of one tablespoon, twice a day and was wondering when I would get a boost of energy. I'm also itching really bad now for approximately two weeks usually when I'm asleep in bed and was wondering if that is the detox spell that everybody goes through. I understand noni juice goes to the colon. Also was wondering if the high level of potassium and or sugar that noni has, would effect the renal cell make-up of the kidneys. I've been reading some forums on this. My mother died of renal cell carcinoma kidney cancer at a young age and I don't want to die as a result of some thing that I thought would benefit me. I'm afraid to increase my noni dosage because of my concerns of the large amounts of potassium to the kidney or liver. I'm 58 years old and have noticed an improvement in the digestion of food. I'm still looking for an improvement in the arthritis pain.