What Can Noni Juice Do for Your Body?

Noni juice is a dietary supplement extracted from the exotic fruit noni, and is commonly marketed as a general health tonic. Manufacturers promote noni for lowering cholesterol, promoting healthy blood sugar levels and for cancer fighting benefits. As with all dietary supplements, speak with your doctor before taking noni juice, especially if you have any existing health conditions. Clinical data exists to support some of the potential benefits of noni. However, there is safety information you should know.

Promotes Healthy Cholesterol

Because smoking cigarettes is a lifestyle factor that promotes inflammation and high cholesterol, researchers examined whether noni juice helps combat this issue in smokers by lowering cholesterol. This particular double-blind study involved 132 heavy smokers. For the research study, they drank noni juice daily for 30 days. The study found that drinking 9.9 milliliters to 188 milliliters, or 1 to 6 ounces daily, significantly reduced cholesterol and triglycerides. The results were published in the October 2012 issue of "Science World Journal."

May Promote Healthy Blood Sugar

Although human studies are needed, the results of animal data show promise for the ability of noni juice to exert beneficial effects on blood sugar. Researchers gave diabetic mice 2 milliliters of noni juice per kilogram of body weight daily for 20 days to examine its effects. This resulted in a significant reduction in blood-glucose levels, providing support for its potential as a blood sugar-lowering agent. The results of the study were published in the October 2010 issue of the journal "Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine."

Potential Ant-Cancer Benefits

Noni juice appears to possess anti-cancer activity, according to a study in the October 2012 issue of the journal "Phytotherapy Research." Researchers examined existing clinical studies and found that a substance in noni juice exerted a small degree of anti-cancer activity. However, they were unable to determine which substance is responsible for potential anti-cancer benefits. Researchers noted that isolating and researching the active compound warrants further research. The results were published in the October 2012 edition of the journal "Phytotherapy Research."

Noni Safety

All supplements have the potential to cause unwanted side effects, so you must exercise caution when taking noni juice. Reports of liver damage linked to noni juice exist, so avoid noni if you have liver disease. It contains compounds that have the potential to worsen liver problems, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In addition, noni is high in potassium, which means you need to avoid it if you follow a potassium-restricted diet because of kidney disease. Because noni has the potential to lower blood sugar, it may increase the effectiveness of blood sugar-lowering medication in those with diabetes, so take necessary precautions.