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Jatoba

Also known as: Jatobá, Jatobá-do-cerrado, Courbaril, Hymenaea courbaril

Overview

Jatobá, scientifically known as Hymenaea courbaril L., is a plant-derived supplement sourced from a tree native to tropical America. Traditionally used as both a food source and in folk medicine, it is commonly available as an extract or flour derived from the tree's pods. This supplement is primarily recognized for its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with emerging research also suggesting benefits in metabolic health and physical performance. While research on Jatobá is still in its early stages and limited, with most studies being preclinical or small-scale human trials, a systematic review has highlighted its antioxidant potential. The current evidence base is considered moderate, indicating a need for larger, more comprehensive studies to fully establish its efficacy and safety.

Benefits

Jatobá exhibits several potential benefits, primarily driven by its rich content of polyphenols and flavonoids. Its most consistently reported benefit is significant antioxidant activity, which helps reduce oxidative stress, as supported by a systematic review. This makes it potentially beneficial for combating cellular damage. Furthermore, animal studies have shown anti-inflammatory and metabolic benefits; for instance, supplementation with Jatobá-do-cerrado flour in rats on a high-fat diet reduced inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNFα) and oxidative stress, leading to decreased fat mass and improved redox balance. A small human randomized controlled trial also indicated improvements in certain measures of athletic performance, such as push-ups, sit-ups, and sprint times, without reported adverse effects. While these findings are promising, the effect sizes in human studies are modest and require confirmation in larger populations. Benefits have been observed with both short-term (days) and longer-term (weeks) supplementation.

How it works

The primary mechanism of action for Jatobá's benefits lies in its high concentration of total phenols and flavonoids. These compounds act as potent antioxidants, effectively scavenging free radicals and mitigating oxidative damage within the body. Its anti-inflammatory effects are likely mediated through the modulation of cytokine production, specifically reducing pro-inflammatory markers like IL-6 and TNFα, and decreasing lipid peroxidation. By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, Jatobá may indirectly contribute to improved metabolic parameters and enhanced physical performance. Although bioavailability data are limited, both the flour and extract forms appear to effectively deliver these active polyphenols, allowing them to exert their beneficial effects within biological systems.

Side effects

Overall, Jatobá supplementation appears to be well tolerated based on the limited available research. No significant side effects were reported in the small human trial involving 15 volunteers during short-term use. However, the safety profile of Jatobá is not yet fully established due to the scarcity of comprehensive clinical data. There is currently no information available regarding potential drug interactions or contraindications from the reviewed literature. Furthermore, the safety of Jatobá in specific populations, such as pregnant women, children, or the elderly, has not been established, and caution is advised for these groups. Given the limited research, individuals should consult a healthcare professional before starting supplementation, especially if they have pre-existing health conditions or are taking other medications. Long-term safety data are also lacking.

Dosage

Optimal dosing and maximum safe doses for Jatobá remain largely undefined due to the limited clinical data. The human study that observed improvements in physical performance involved a supplementation period of 5 days following a 9-day baseline, but the exact dosages used were not clearly specified. Animal studies, which demonstrated metabolic benefits, utilized dietary inclusion of Jatobá flour over a longer period of 63 days. While timing appears flexible, benefits have been observed with daily supplementation. Jatobá is available in various formulations, including flour and extracts, which are often standardized for their phenolic content. Without more robust human trials, specific dosage recommendations for different purposes cannot be definitively provided, and users should exercise caution and consider starting with lower doses while monitoring for any effects.

FAQs

Is Jatobá safe?

Current evidence from small human trials suggests short-term use of Jatobá is safe with no reported adverse effects. However, long-term safety and effects in specific populations are not yet established.

How soon do benefits appear?

Some physical performance improvements have been observed within days of supplementation. Metabolic effects, as seen in animal models, typically required several weeks of consistent use.

What forms are available?

Jatobá is commonly available as a flour or extract. Its beneficial properties are primarily attributed to its bioactive polyphenols and flavonoids.

Can it replace standard treatments?

No, the evidence for Jatobá is preliminary and insufficient to recommend it as a treatment for any medical condition. It should not replace prescribed medications or therapies.

Research Sources

https://efsupit.ro/images/stories/mai2022/Art%20155.pdf – This human randomized controlled trial (Cavalcante et al., 2022) involved 15 volunteers in a crossover design to test Jatobá extract's effect on muscle performance and sprint times. It found statistically significant improvements in push-ups, sit-ups, and sprint performance, but its small sample size and short duration limit generalizability.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37931532/ – This animal randomized controlled trial (da Silva et al., 2023) studied male Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet with or without Jatobá-do-cerrado flour. After 63 days, Jatobá supplementation significantly reduced fat mass, inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNFα), and lipid peroxidation markers, demonstrating metabolic benefits in an animal model.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8906597/ – This systematic review (Jacob et al., 2022) assessed the antioxidant potential of Hymenaea courbaril and related tree legumes. It found consistent evidence of antioxidant activity linked to phenolic compounds but did not evaluate clinical outcomes, indicating moderate quality with no meta-analysis of clinical trials.