No evidence to support the claim that soursop leaf cures diabetes

A social media post (archived here) claiming that soursop leaf is one of the best natural remedies for stabilizing blood sugar levels is being shared on social media. A video, shared by a page called ‘Farmacy For Life’, talks about the ‘ill-effects of sugar’ on a person’s health and promotes soursop capsules. While the post has nearly 5,500 likes, the page has over 800,000 followers.  

A similar claim has been shared by several others and an archived version can be seen here, here, and here.

Screenshots of social media posts promoting soursop as a cure for diabetes. (Source: Instagram/YouTube. Modified by Logically Facts)

Anecdotally, the fruit has helped treat diabetes and a range of other diseases, but no rigorous study or clinical trial supports this claim. 

So, why is soursop promoted as a fruit with anti-diabetic properties?

Soursop is also called the fruit of Annona muricata or graviola. A 2019 paper assessed the safety of Annona muricata leaves, but the study was carried out on mice, and no actual human studies have evaluated the fruit's impact on humans or its effect on conditions such as diabetes. Other studies that have looked at diabetes have also been conducted on mice. 

Speaking to Logically Facts, Vikrant Ghanekar, scientific officer at the biology cell of Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, said, “This kind of study requires lots of rigorous research, and if one particular fruit/vegetable has exceptional properties, then it should have been in use for all these years, and there was no need of the anti-diabetic drug.” 

In 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration also warned a company to stop making false claims about soursop. It referred to an Instagram post from January 2017 that claims to cure arthritis, high blood pressure, and diabetes and stated that “Your Sour Sop Capsules, Sour Sop Tea Bags, and Sour Sop Leaves products are not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above-referenced uses and, therefore, these products are “new drugs” under section 201(p) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 321(p)] (sic).” FDA has also repeatedly issued warning letters to many such firms who are illegally marketing products for the treatment or prevention of serious diseases.

Dr. Mahesh D.M., consultant endocrinology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, said, "Soursop has the ability to cure diabetes is one that lacks substantial scientific evidence. It is crucial to understand that while some natural remedies may offer health benefits, they should not be viewed as replacements for conventional medical treatments."

He added that "the relationship between food items and diseases like diabetes is complex and multifaceted. While certain foods can play a significant role in managing and controlling the symptoms of diabetes, they do not serve as definitive cures for the condition."

One possible explanation behind the promotion of soursop as a possible cure for diabetes could be the fruit’s low glycemic index, which means the blood sugar level rises slowly after eating it. This doesn’t mean that it can cure or prevent diabetes. Harvard Health’s blog post even states, “Following the principles of low-glycemic-index eating is likely to be beneficial for people with diabetes. But reaching and staying at a healthy weight is more important for your blood sugar and your overall health.”

The verdict

While there are anecdotes about soursop helping with diabetes, there is a lack of data and limited evidence to support the claim.