Day +553 : “I am a lawyer! Do you think I can get cheated so easily?” (3)

I am fine today. Continue from yesterday…

A quote from the Wikipedia about the health benefit claims of Xango juice :

“Marketing materials used to promote mangosteen juice indicate more than 20 human health benefits, among which are "anti-inflammatory," "anti-microbial," "anti-fungal," "anti-viral," "anti-cancer," "anti-ulcer," "anti-hepatotoxic," "anti-rhinoviral," and "anti-allergic"[20]. Promotional literature for the product cites antioxidants from the inedible rind of the fruit as providing health benefits. None of these claims, however, has scientific proof established by peer-reviewed research and human clinical trials, as discussed below.

In mid-2005, the American Cancer Society profile of mangosteen juice said that there was no evidence that any part of the fruit is effective as a treatment for cancer in humans, but preliminary laboratory studies showed some promise for treating acne. The profile mentioned laboratory studies indicating need for further research [21].

On its website, after stating that "Research shows xanthones (a component of XanGo juice) possess potent antioxidant properties that may help maintain intestinal health, strengthen the immune system, neutralize free radicals, help support cartilage and joint function, and promote a healthy seasonal respiratory system", the company adds this disclaimer as a footnote: "These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease"[22].

The company's scientific advisor, David A. Morton, PhD[23][24](whose brothers, Joe and Gordon, helped found the company[25]), stated in 2006 there is "emerging evidence that mangosteen has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-microbial properties"[23], yet acknowledged the only study of humans consuming mangosteen juice was conducted as a test of dysentery therapy in Singapore in 1932[26][23]. "I don’t think there are plans to study mangosteen in humans in the near future," Dr. Morton said in 2006, because "there’s much too much that still needs to be studied in the lab"[23].

In 2007, the Mayo Clinic stated there was no evidence in humans that mangosteen juice had anti-inflammatory activity[27].”

You can read the whole article here.

In 2006, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned Xango about their health claims, and now they display on their website the statement, “*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” But strangely enough, what Xango agents say is totally different from the statement. I believe they just put the statement to avoid running into trouble with FDA.

In fact, there was a Xango agent visiting me while I was still doing my chemotherapy. I didn’t take the juice but introduced it to a Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) patient instead. The patient’s husband purchased a few boxes of the juice for her but the juice failed miserably on her. I blogged about this on my blog Day +202, and you can read it here.

I hope this post give you an idea on how you should handle MLM agents who claim that their product could bring magic cure to you.

If it just happens that you are the agent, don’t be angry, just forget about everything that I write by taking high dose of health products :-) It should cure your angriness.

See you next post :-)