Noni Juice

Is there any problem taking Noni Juice, which I'm told helps strengthen the immune system, while being in the middle of chemotherapy?

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear dazld, The majority of the information that I could find regarding noni juice is basically from sites promoting the product.  I did find an article from a Registered Dietician writing for the National Council for Reliable Health Information who had some interesting comments that may be helpful, as we really don't know (scientifically) if there is a problem or not with this product in relation to chemotherapy.  We recommend that you let your oncologist know of any supplements, herbal remedies etc. as they can advise you based on your individual situation.

The following is written by:
William D. Evers, PhD, RD, Cooperative Extension Foods and Nutrition Specialist,Purdue University School of Consumer and Family Sciences Department of Foods and Nutrition.

NCAHF Newsletter, March/April, 1998 - Vol. 21(2)
(Now NCRHI - National Council for Reliable Health Information)

Noni Juice  

The promotion of Noni juice (ie, the juice of  the tropical plant
Morinda citrifolia) is growing as more and more hucksters become
involved in multilevel marketing schemes that sell the product.
According to The Lawrence Review of Natural Products, (Oct. 1997) no information is available on side effects. We note that several studies on mice found that the juice can inhibit the growth of some cancer cells. Although proponents claim that this is accomplished by "enhancing the immune system," they do not specify the aspects of the immune system that are allegedly affected.  Frankly, we doubt that this is the case because immune system enhancement is an unlikely mechanism for inhibiting cancer. When a substance inhibits the growth
of cancer cells it is much more likely that it is "cytotoxic"
(poisonous to cells). Just as with chemotherapeutic agents, fast-growing cancer cells are more strongly affected by toxic substances than are normal cells. The cancer cells are poisoned to death while normal cells are mildly poisoned but recover once the therapy is stopped. In the case of Noni, it appears that the substance is biologically active. This means that it may have medicinal value. However, it also means that it can have negative effects such as interfering with other medications.

People who take other medicines should be cautious with Noni. Don't expect your doctor to know if it is safe. There simply is no good information. Consumers who have decided to become guinea pigs should watch carefully for side-effects, and should not allow themselves to be misguided by naturopaths homeopaths, or chiropractors who claim that adverse side effects are "the poisons coming out." In fact, these side-effects are due to poisons going in! Contrary to what the hucksters would like their potential customers to believe, it is not comforting to
learn that an herbal remedy does, in fact, have biological activity. This is because any substance that can alter physiology has the potential for both good and ill, depending upon the nature of the individual, his problems, the dosage, how it is administered, and more. Benign, useless herbal products are less a problem because their benefits are due to the
placebo effect and no harm can be done.

[mbp]

Is any additional information available about the side effects of noni, noni's interaction with other medication or long term side effects?

[Geeb]

I really can't speak on the side effects or interactions of noni juice with other medications, but I have taken it for about the last year and a half, and have not been sick since. I also take Moducare, a plant sterinol, which is supposed to regulate the immune system. I have ulcerative colitis, and started taking both of those products for that. I have also not had a flare-up of that condition since I started taking them, something which is rare, as I've had flares of that disease each summer for close to the last 10 years. Of course I can't say that the noni and the moducare are definetly responsible, but I'll keep taking them until I'm sure they are NOT helping me. My husband also starting taking the noni juice when diagnosed with early signs of multiple sclerosis(through an MRI, doesn't have symptoms) and his last 2 MRI's have been unchanged. Don't mean to sound like a testimonial. At the time I started taking the noni I was also taking daily medication for the colitis (which I had been taking for 15 years) and there were no interactions with that medication. I have been off the colitis medication since shortly after I started the noni juice and moducare. Good lucK!