Autoimmune Thyroid Dysfunction: A Possible Effect of Mangosteen

When an otherwise healthy 55-year-old woman developed

hyperthyroidism, a popular dietary supplement was implicated.

Herbal, hormonal, food, and vitamin supplements are widely available “over-the-counter” in stores and online. These products are not regulated by the FDA, however, and their efficacy and systemic effects are largely unknown. One such popular derivative is mangosteen, a drink derived from the tropical fruit Garcinia mangostana (called the “queen of fruits”). This fruit is native to Southeast Asia where it long has been used as a topical anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of skin infections and wounds. More recently, it is increasingly being used systemically in managing dysentery, cystitis, and gonorrhea.¹