Noni juice: Can it reduce cholesterol?

I've heard that drinking noni juice may lower my cholesterol. Is this true?

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Mayo Clinic cardiologist Gerald Gau, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

There's no evidence that noni juice reduces cholesterol. Noni juice, which is made from a fruit (Morinda citrifolia) grown in the Asia-Pacific region, has gained popularity as a tonic for everything from arthritis and depression to heart disease and cancer. But there is insufficient reliable data about its effectiveness in treating any of these conditions.

As with many fruits, the noni fruit is a source of vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants. Antioxidants appear to protect the body from age-related changes and certain diseases. Although the juice has an unpleasant taste and odor, it is generally safe to drink. However, noni juice is high in potassium. For this reason, it should be used with caution — if at all — in people with chronic kidney disease or who take potassium-sparing diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) because it could cause dangerously elevated blood levels of potassium (hyperkalemia).