Immune & Recovery
Mangosteen
A tropical fruit whose thick purple rind contains xanthones, plant compounds studied in early research for antioxidant activity.
Immunity
Anti-Inflammatory
Skin Health
Serving
1 cup, pulp (196g)
Calories Per Serving
143
Key nutrients
Xanthones, vitamin C, fiber
Nutrient density
Not officially rated
Why it’s worth eating
Mangosteen is noted for its xanthones, strong antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber. Supports immunity and combats inflammation. Eat fresh or add to juices and desserts.
What you may notice
Energy levels
Skin appearance
Markers worth tracking
Vitamin C status
Lipid panel
How to eat it
Eat only the white, segmented flesh inside, the thick purple rind is not eaten, though it's sometimes used in extracts or supplements.
Pairs well with
Healthy fats (yogurt), helps the body retain fat-soluble antioxidants longer
Other tropical fruit, a complementary flavor pairing with no nutritional downside
Storage
Refrigerate and use within about a week; the rind hardens as it ages, which can make opening it harder.
The numbers, per 1 cup, pulp (196g)
0%
Vitamin K
0%
Vitamin A
6%
Vitamin C
2%
Calcium
3%
Iron
6%
Magnesium
2%
Potassium
0%
Vitamin B12
0%
Vitamin D
Fiber
3.5g
Mangosteen, canned, syrup pack (FDC 169090)
Evidence
D
MAJOR OVER-CLAIM: the xanthone literature is overwhelmingly in vitro and animal, with essentially no credible whole-fruit human clinical-outcome evidence. Two documented counterweights make this a clear honesty entry.
Study dose vs. serving
No credible human whole-fruit dose-response exists. Alpha-mangostin concentrates in the inedible pericarp, not the edible flesh. Independent context: an AP lab test found XanGo antioxidant strength no better than other readily available fruit juices, at about $40 a bottle.
FDA warning letter to XanGo LLC, 20 September 2006, over mangosteen-juice marketing making drug claims (cancer, atherosclerosis, HIV, arthritis), positioning the juice as an unapproved drug. Case report: Wong LP, Klemmer PJ. Am J Kidney Dis. 2008;51(5):829-834. PMID 18436094.
Use caution if
You take blood thinners, concentrated mangosteen extracts (more so than the fresh fruit) have been linked to interactions with anticoagulants
You're managing blood sugar closely, mangosteen flesh is moderately high in natural sugar
Details
Type
Fruits & Veg
Season
Imported, tropical; juice and supplement year-round
Forms
Fresh (rare in US), juice, powder, capsules
Price
Premium
Bioactive
Alpha-mangostin and related xanthones (in the rind, not the flesh)
Heat stable
Partial
Watch
LACTIC ACIDOSIS CASE REPORT: a 58-year-old man with chronic kidney disease who drank mangosteen juice daily for about a year presented with severe lactic acidosis; the authors proposed alpha-mangostin may impair mitochondrial respiration. Quantity and brand were unspecified, so causality is uncertain, but it is a legitimate counterweight.
Reliability
2 / 5
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