Fruits · Fruit
Jackfruit
Artocarpus heterophyllus · also called Jack fruit, yaca (Spanish)
Jackfruit is a very large tropical fruit. The ripe flesh is sweet and the unripe fruit is cooked like a vegetable. It gives vitamin B6, vitamin C and potassium. No trial shows that eating it treats a disease. The main cautions are allergy in people sensitive to birch pollen or latex, and potassium for people with kidney disease.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Jackfruit
Jackfruit is a large tropical fruit that gives vitamin B6, vitamin C and potassium. It is a food, not a proven remedy, and allergy and potassium are the points to know.
What it is
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is the fruit of a tropical tree in the mulberry and fig family. Ripe flesh is eaten sweet. Unripe fruit is cooked and often used as a meat substitute.
USDA data for raw ripe jackfruit: 95 kcal per 100 g. One cup of sliced fruit (165 g) has about 157 kcal, 2.5 g fibre, 31.5 g sugars, 22.6 mg vitamin C, 0.54 mg vitamin B6 and 739 mg potassium. These numbers were carried from our earlier reading of the USDA record. Canned and dried jackfruit differ.
What the research shows
The nutrient facts are solid. Health effects are not shown for the ripe fruit.
One randomised trial in 40 adults with type 2 diabetes used green jackfruit flour in place of rice or wheat flour. HbA1c fell by 0.25% versus placebo flour. One author invented the flour and heads the company that sells it.
Reviews list many lab and animal findings for jackfruit and its leaves, bark and seeds. They do not show the same effects in people.
Fruit, flour and extracts
The diabetes trial used a processed unripe-fruit flour. Ripe fruit, dried fruit, seeds, leaves and extracts are different products, and results for one do not carry over.
Amounts
This page gives no amounts to eat. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or dietitian what is right for you, especially with diabetes or kidney disease.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Eaten ripe as a sweet fruit
- Cooked unripe as a vegetable and meat substitute
- Used in traditional medicine for inflammation, diarrhoea and diabetes; long use is not proof it works
Studied for research
- Vitamin B6, vitamin C and potassium as a food source, high certainty (composition data)
- Blood sugar with green jackfruit flour in type 2 diabetes, low certainty (one small trial, flour not fruit)
- Ripe fruit and blood sugar, insufficient evidence
- Digestion and wide health claims, insufficient evidence (lab and animal work)
Main compounds
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
- Potassium
- Fibre
- Carotenoids (lutein plus zeaxanthin, beta-carotene)
- Jacalin (a protein)
Common forms
- Ripe flesh as fruit
- Unripe fruit, cooked
- Dried or canned jackfruit
- Green jackfruit flour (used in one trial)
Research links: USDA FoodData Central: Jackfruit, raw · Green jackfruit flour trial in type 2 diabetes (2021) · Jackfruit allergy and birch pollen (2004) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Artocarpus heterophyllus
- Naming authority
- Lam. (name as used in the PubMed titles read; accepted-name check via GBIF was not run in this session)
- Synonyms
- Artocarpus integrifolia (older name, used in a 1997 case report)
- Common names
- Jackfruit (en); Jack fruit (en); Yaca (yaca, fruta de jaca) (es)
- Family or group
- Moraceae (the mulberry and fig family), which also includes figs and mulberries (PubMed 20447079).
- Classification
- Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Rosales > Moraceae > Artocarpus > Artocarpus heterophyllus
- Native range
- A 2023 review abstract says it is native to India and common in Asia, Africa and parts of South America.
- Habitat
- Not verified from a source read.
- What it looks like
- Roots: Not verified.; Stems: Not verified.; Leaves: Not verified.; Flowers: Not verified.; Fruit: One of the largest edible fruits in the world (PubMed 35144492). The fruit is the food.
- Cultivation
- Not verified from a source read.
- Harvest and processing
- Eaten ripe as sweet flesh; unripe fruit is cooked and used as a meat substitute (PubMed 35144492 and 38144022 mention food uses). Dried and canned forms exist.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis); Note: A close relative; the two are different foods. Not described in the sources read.; Name: Fig and mulberry; Note: Same plant family, and share a birch-related allergen (PubMed 20447079).
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not assessed.
Photographs
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional medicine | A 2023 review abstract says the fruit, bark, leaves and roots are used in many traditional medicinal systems, mainly for inflammation, diarrhoea and diabetes (scoping review abstract). Long use is not proof it works. | p38144022 |
Traditional use shows how it was used. It does not show that it works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lutein plus zeaxanthin and beta-carotene | carotenoid | Fruit flesh About 157 mcg lutein plus zeaxanthin and 61 mcg beta-carotene per 100 g (USDA values, carried from our earlier reading). | Measured in the fruit. No human health effect was shown for jackfruit. 14 | Composition only |
| Jacalin (a lectin) | protein | Reported in jackfruit species | Named in a scoping review abstract as abundant and as a possible marker in HIV-1 patients. Not a health effect of eating the fruit. 9 | Lab |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-reaction with birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 | Bet v 1-related protein of about 17 kDa | IgE binding to a 17 kDa jackfruit protein was blocked by birch pollen and recombinant Bet v 1; mass spectrometry found 76% homology to Bet v 1. 1 2 | Human data |
| Latex cross-reaction | Not specified | Case reports describe anaphylaxis in latex-allergic people; whether it is true cross-reaction or coincidence is not settled. 4 8 5 | Case report |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Not studied.
- Distribution
- Not found.
- Metabolism
- Not found.
- Elimination
- Not found.
- Bioavailability
- Not found.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
The only diabetes trial used a processed green jackfruit flour swapped for grain flour. It does not show what ripe fruit, dried fruit, seeds or extracts do. Leaf and seed studies are different foods again.
Nutritional composition
Nutrition for raw ripe jackfruit (USDA SR Legacy, FDC 174687), 1 cup of sliced fruit (165 g): about 157 kcal, 2.5 g fibre, 31.5 g sugars, 22.6 mg vitamin C, 0.54 mg vitamin B6, 739 mg potassium, 48 mg magnesium, 0.13 mg copper, 40 mcg folate (DFE). Per 100 g: 95 kcal, 1.5 g fibre, 19.1 g sugars, 13.7 mg vitamin C, 0.33 mg B6, 448 mg potassium. These numbers are carried from our earlier reading of the USDA record and were not re-fetched, because the FoodData Central API was rate-limited. USDA lists no vitamin K value. Canned or dried jackfruit is not covered.
1 high certainty1 low certainty3 not enough evidence
What was looked at
The 5 benefits and uses checked for Jackfruit, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and some fibreHigh certainty
- Blood sugar in type 2 diabetes (green jackfruit flour, not ripe fruit)Low certainty
- Ripe jackfruit and blood sugarNot enough evidence
- Digestion and bowel functionNot enough evidence
- Wide health claims (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cancer, infection)Not enough evidence
Lab markers tracked in the studies
HbA1cFasting and after-meal blood glucose
What is Jackfruit good for?
The studied uses and how strong the human evidence is for each. Most results are for a flour or come from lab work, not from eating the ripe fruit.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and some fibre
High certaintyRipe jackfruit gives vitamin B6, vitamin C and potassium, with a modest amount of fibre. This is food composition, not a health trial. No trial has shown that eating jackfruit prevents or treats a disease.
2 studiesFresh ripe flesh. Canned or dried jackfruit is not covered by these n…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
USDA lists, per 100 g raw ripe jackfruit: 95 kcal, 1.5 g fibre, 19.1 g sugars, 0.33 mg vitamin B6, 13.7 mg vitamin C and 448 mg potassium. For a cup of sliced fruit (165 g) that is about 157 kcal, 2.5 g fibre, 31.5 g sugars, 0.54 mg B6, 22.6 mg vitamin C and 739 mg potassium.
Results
Nutrient content of the fruit is well documented in the USDA database.
Effect sizes as reported
Per cup (165 g): about 32% of the Daily Value for B6, 25% vitamin C, 16% potassium, 9% fibre.
Why this rating
High for the composition numbers as a database fact. Nothing here shows a health effect of the fruit. Values vary by variety, ripeness and storage.
Form and dose studied
Fresh ripe flesh. Canned or dried jackfruit is not covered by these numbers.
Who was studied
Anyone eating the fruit.
Limits
Numbers carried from an earlier USDA reading and not re-fetched in this run. No vitamin K value is listed.
Why researchers looked
People ask what a tropical fruit adds to the diet.
Traditional use
Jackfruit is eaten ripe as a sweet fruit and unripe as a cooked vegetable and meat substitute. Long use as food is not proof that it treats any condition.
Proposed mechanism Authoritative guidance
USDA lists vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and some fibre in raw ripe jackfruit. These are normal food nutrients.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Potassium and sugar matter for some people; see the Safety tab.
Blood sugar in type 2 diabetes (green jackfruit flour, not ripe fruit)
Low certaintyOne small trial gave adults with type 2 diabetes green (unripe) jackfruit flour in place of rice or wheat flour. Blood sugar markers fell more than with a placebo flour. It was a flour product, from a trial with a link to the maker, and it does not show that ripe fruit helps.
1 studiesGreen jackfruit flour, a processed product.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
In a randomised, double-blind trial of 40 adults aged 18 to 60 with type 2 diabetes on oral medicines, 30 g a day of a branded green jackfruit flour (Jackfruit365) or placebo flour replaced an equal volume of rice or wheat flour at breakfast and dinner for 12 weeks. HbA1c fell by 2.73 mmol/mol (0.25%) with jackfruit flour and rose by 0.22 mmol/mol (0.02%) with placebo (p = 0.006). Fasting and after-meal glucose also fell more (p = 0.043 and p = 0.001).
Results
A small improvement in blood sugar markers versus placebo flour in 12 weeks.
Effect sizes as reported
HbA1c -0.25% vs +0.02% (p = 0.006).
Why this rating
One small trial (20 per group). One author invented the flour (pending patent) and is CEO of the company that sells it. The flour was swapped for grain, so the effect may come from what was replaced.
Form and dose studied
Green jackfruit flour, a processed product.
Who was studied
Adults 18 to 60 with type 2 diabetes for more than a year, on oral medicines.
Limits
Not ripe fruit. Not repeated by an independent group in the sources we read. 12 weeks only.
Why researchers looked
Unripe jackfruit is eaten as a starchy food, so researchers tested it as a swap for grain flour.
Traditional use
Jackfruit is eaten ripe as a sweet fruit and unripe as a cooked vegetable and meat substitute. Long use as food is not proof that it treats any condition.
Proposed mechanism Authoritative guidance
USDA lists vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and some fibre in raw ripe jackfruit. These are normal food nutrients.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
People with diabetes should not change food or medicine without their care team.
Ripe jackfruit and blood sugar
Not enough evidenceRipe jackfruit has about 19 g of sugars per 100 g. We found no trial of the ripe fruit and blood sugar. One small study of a cooked flesh-and-seed meal measured its glycaemic index, but its abstract is not clear.
2 studiesRaw ripe flesh (USDA); boiled flesh and seeds (meal study).
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
USDA lists 19.1 g of sugars per 100 g raw ripe fruit (about 31.5 g per cup). A crossover study of 10 healthy adults tested a boiled meal of jackfruit flesh and seeds (mature fruit, Sri Lanka). The abstract reports a glycaemic index of 75 and also calls the meal low-GI, so we do not state a conclusion.
Results
No usable result for the ripe fruit.
Effect sizes as reported
GI of the cooked meal reported as 75 (the abstract also describes it as low GI).
Why this rating
No trial of ripe fruit and blood sugar. The one meal study has unclear conclusions in its abstract and used a cooked seed-and-flesh meal in 10 healthy people.
Form and dose studied
Raw ripe flesh (USDA); boiled flesh and seeds (meal study).
Who was studied
Healthy adults (meal study).
Limits
Healthy people only; one meal; not a diabetes trial.
Why researchers looked
People with diabetes ask whether a sweet tropical fruit is suitable.
Traditional use
Jackfruit is eaten ripe as a sweet fruit and unripe as a cooked vegetable and meat substitute. Long use as food is not proof that it treats any condition.
Proposed mechanism Authoritative guidance
USDA lists vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and some fibre in raw ripe jackfruit. These are normal food nutrients.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Sugars count toward daily intake. Ask a dietitian.
Digestion and bowel function
Not enough evidenceA cup of sliced ripe jackfruit has about 2.5 g of fibre, a modest amount. No trial of jackfruit and bowel function was found.
1 studiesRaw ripe flesh.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
USDA lists 1.5 g fibre per 100 g raw ripe fruit. No human study of bowel function or gut bacteria with jackfruit was found in our searches.
Results
No result to report.
Effect sizes as reported
About 2.5 g fibre per cup (USDA).
Why this rating
No human trial. Fibre content is a composition fact only.
Form and dose studied
Raw ripe flesh.
Who was studied
Not studied.
Limits
Nothing to assess.
Why researchers looked
Whole fruit fibre is part of normal digestion.
Traditional use
Jackfruit is eaten ripe as a sweet fruit and unripe as a cooked vegetable and meat substitute. Long use as food is not proof that it treats any condition.
Proposed mechanism Authoritative guidance
USDA lists vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and some fibre in raw ripe jackfruit. These are normal food nutrients.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific.
Wide health claims (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cancer, infection)
Not enough evidenceReviews list many lab and animal findings for jackfruit and its leaves, bark and seeds. These are not human trials of eating the fruit. The one human result in these reviews that the abstracts mention is for leaves in diabetes.
2 studiesExtracts of leaf, bark, seed and fruit in lab work.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
A 2023 critical review says that benefits such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activity are based on preclinical studies, and that clinical studies point to leaf action in diabetes. A 2023 scoping review lists extracts and compounds from leaves, bark, stem and fruit with lab activities. Neither abstract reports a human trial of eating the fruit.
Results
Lab and animal findings only for the fruit.
Why this rating
Preclinical (lab and animal) work does not show effects in people. Leaves are not the fruit.
Form and dose studied
Extracts of leaf, bark, seed and fruit in lab work.
Limits
Abstracts only; we did not read the full reviews. The scoping review has an erratum.
Why researchers looked
Jackfruit is used in traditional medicine in several countries and many lab papers exist.
Traditional use
Jackfruit is eaten ripe as a sweet fruit and unripe as a cooked vegetable and meat substitute. Long use as food is not proof that it treats any condition.
Proposed mechanism Authoritative guidance
USDA lists vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and some fibre in raw ripe jackfruit. These are normal food nutrients.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Lab results are not advice to take extracts.
Connections to the rest of health
How Jackfruit connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digestive System | Biological association | High certainty | Studied for: Source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and some fibre Studied for: Digestion and bowel function | 14 13 |
| Blood Sugar Support | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Blood sugar in type 2 diabetes (green jackfruit flour, not ripe fruit) Studied for: Ripe jackfruit and blood sugar | 6 14 3 |
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food allergy | Adverse effect or risk | Documented risk | Reported with birch pollen allergy and latex allergy. Reported with birch pollen and latex allergy. Preparation or compound: Jackfruit flesh, fresh or dried |
1 2 10 4 |
| High blood potassium | Adverse effect or risk | General caution | A cup has about 739 mg; relevant with kidney disease or potassium-raising medicines. Preparation or compound: Potassium in ripe jackfruit |
13 14 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HbA1c | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: decrease. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 6 |
| Fasting and after-meal blood glucose | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: decrease. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 6 |
K. Biological pathways
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium | Preliminary mechanism | Composition | Ripe jackfruit contains potassium; relevant to kidney disease. | 13 14 |
| Vitamin B6 | Preliminary mechanism | Composition | Ripe jackfruit is a source (USDA). | 14 |
| Vitamin C | Preliminary mechanism | Composition | Ripe jackfruit is a source (USDA). | 14 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lutein plus zeaxanthin and beta-carotene | Biological association | Composition only | Measured in the fruit. No human health effect was shown for jackfruit. Preparation or compound: Fruit flesh |
14 |
| Jacalin (a lectin) | Biological association | Lab | Named in a scoping review abstract as abundant and as a possible marker in HIV-1 patients. Not a health effect of eating the fruit. Preparation or compound: Reported in jackfruit species |
9 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what the research found for 5 outcomes
Each outcome below is one thing researchers measured. Certainty is how far the evidence can be trusted, not how well it works. The full studies are on the next tab.
The evidence
The research centre for Jackfruit. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We started from our existing jackfruit summary and searched PubMed by title for reviews, trials, glycaemic and allergy papers. Only abstracts were read for studies. Items we could not verify are flagged in the research gaps.
Study library: every study we checked 14
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| p15461600 Allergy to jackfruit: a novel example of Bet v 1-related food allergy (Bolhaar 2004, Allergy) · Source |
Case series |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p20447079 Identification of Bet v 1-related allergens in fig and other Moraceae fruits (Hemmer 2010, Clin Exp Allergy) · Source |
Cross sectional |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p21789865 Nutritional assessment of a jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) meal (Hettiaratchi 2011, Ceylon Med J) · Source |
Crossover study |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p25840636 Jackfruit anaphylaxis in a latex allergic patient (Wongrakpanich 2015) · Source |
Case report |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p34104534 Jackfruit anaphylaxis in a latex allergic non-healthcare worker (Jalil 2021, Allergy Rhinol) · Source |
Case report |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p34127645 Efficacy of green jackfruit flour as a medical nutrition therapy replacing rice or wheat in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Rao 2021, Nutr Diabetes) · Source |
RCT |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p35144492 Jackfruit in health and disease: a critical review (Gupta 2023, Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr) · Source |
Narrative review |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p37868235 Jackfruit anaphylaxis due to cross reactivity with latex (Dey 2023) · Source |
Case report |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p38144022 Efficacy of jackfruit components in prevention and control of human disease: a scoping review (Tripathi 2023, J Educ Health Promot) · Source |
Scoping review |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p41618468 Three cases of jackfruit allergy in Canada: a case series (Wierenga 2026, Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol) · Source |
Case series |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| p9188925 Oral allergy syndrome to a jackfruit (Wuthrich 1997, Allergy) · Source |
Case report |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: abstract | ||
| s-fda-produce FDA: Selecting and Serving Produce Safely · Source |
Regulator n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-medlineplus-potassium MedlinePlus: Potassium · Source |
Health agency n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-usda-fdc-174687 USDA FoodData Central: Jackfruit, raw (SR Legacy, FDC 174687) · Source |
Reference database n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: summary-only |
What we do not know yet
- No trial of ripe jackfruit and any health outcome was found.
- The only diabetes trial used a branded green flour and has a link to the maker.
- No data on how common jackfruit allergy is.
- No official pregnancy, breastfeeding or children advice was found.
- USDA numbers were carried from an earlier reading and not re-fetched in this run.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue before the page changes.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Metabolic 2
HbA1c
Decrease in trials
A blood test showing average blood sugar over about 3 months.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
The usual long-term marker of blood sugar control in diabetes.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
A small change in one industry-linked trial of a flour; not ripe fruit.
Safety implication
None reported in the abstract.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | -2.73 mmol/mol (-0.25%) with green jackfruit flour vs +0.22 mmol/mol (+0.02%) with placebo flour, p = 0.006 | 40 adults with type 2 diabetes | Green jackfruit flour 30 g/day replacing rice or wheat flour, 12 weeks |
Fasting and after-meal blood glucose
Decrease in trials
Blood sugar measured before eating and after a meal.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Shows day-to-day blood sugar control.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Same small trial as above.
Safety implication
None reported in the abstract.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Fasting glucose and after-meal glucose fell more with jackfruit flour than placebo (p = 0.043 and p = 0.001); group values are not in the abstract | 40 adults with type 2 diabetes | Green jackfruit flour, 12 weeks |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 2
- Allergy is possible, including severe reactions. Jackfruit allergy has been reported in people allergic to birch pollen (mouth itching) and in people allergic to latex (anaphylaxis in case reports, with dried jackfruit in two). Call emergency services for trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat. Case report 1 2 4 8 5
- Potassium and kidney disease. A cup of sliced jackfruit has about 739 mg potassium (USDA). With chronic kidney disease the kidneys may not remove extra potassium, and some medicines raise it. No source read tests jackfruit specifically. Authoritative guidance 13 14
Side effects 2
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mouth and throat itching (oral allergy type) after eating jackfruit in people with birch pollen allergy Small studies and case reports; no prevalence figures. | All 5 birch-and-fruit-allergic patients had such symptoms on open challenge in one small study | mild to moderate Not stated in the abstract | Observational 1 10 11 |
| Anaphylaxis after eating jackfruit in people with latex allergy Three single case reports. Authors of one say it is unclear if this is cross-reaction or coincidence. | Not established | severe Not stated in the abstracts | Case report 4 8 5 |
Liver
No liver injury from eating jackfruit was found in the sources read. Liver safety was not specifically searched in LiverTox.
How often. Not found.
Monitoring. Not found.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Jackfruit supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 2
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicines that raise blood potassium prescription | Some medicines can raise potassium (MedlinePlus). Jackfruit contains potassium. | No source read tests jackfruit with such medicines. This is a general caution, not a proven jackfruit interaction. | Authoritative guidance Very low certainty 13 | If you take a medicine that raises potassium or have kidney disease, ask a pharmacist or dietitian. |
| Diabetes medicines prescription | Ripe jackfruit contains sugars (about 19 g per 100 g). In one trial, a green jackfruit flour lowered blood sugar markers in people already taking oral medicines. | No interaction study of the fruit was found. | Clinical trial Very low certainty 14 6 | Tell your care team about changes in what you eat; do not change medicine on your own. |
Who should check first 2
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Known allergy to jackfruit, latex or birch pollen with related fruit reactions | Avoid foods that cause symptoms and ask an allergist. People with latex allergy should ask before trying jackfruit, especially dried. | Case report 4 8 5 1 |
| Chronic kidney disease or a low-potassium diet | Ask your kidney team or dietitian about jackfruit portions. | Authoritative guidance 13 14 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. No toxicity from eating jackfruit as food was found in the sources read.
Animal. Not reviewed.
Human doses studied. The only trial used 30 g a day of green jackfruit flour for 12 weeks; the abstract reports no safety findings.
Overdose response. Not found.
Genotoxicity. Not researched.
Toxic or hazardous parts. No toxic part was identified in the sources read.
Fresh cut fruit can carry germs from soil, water or handling.
Washing and handling fresh-cut produce. FDA says to rinse produce under running water without soap or produce wash, cut away damaged parts and keep cut produce refrigerated. Washing reduces but does not eliminate bacteria. 12
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Consumer advice on selecting and serving produce safely source | 2025-09-08 |
| MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine) (United States) | Potassium page: kidneys with chronic disease may not remove extra potassium; some medicines raise potassium source |
When to get medical help
- Trouble breathing, wheezing, swelling of the lips, face or throat, widespread hives, or fainting after eating jackfruit: call emergency services.
- Itching of the mouth or throat that spreads or does not settle: stop eating it and ask a doctor.
Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is jackfruit good for?
It is a source of vitamin B6, vitamin C and potassium and is eaten for flavour. It has not been shown to prevent or treat a disease.
Is jackfruit good for diabetes?
Not shown for the ripe fruit. One small trial of green jackfruit flour lowered HbA1c by 0.25%, but one author is linked to the flour company. Ask your care team.
Does jackfruit raise blood sugar?
Can I be allergic to jackfruit?
Is jackfruit safe with a latex allergy?
Why does jackfruit make my mouth itch?
Is jackfruit high in potassium?
Is jackfruit a good source of fibre?
A modest one: about 2.5 g per cup of sliced fruit (USDA).
Is green jackfruit the same as ripe?
Does jackfruit interact with medicines?
No interaction study was found. As a general point, potassium-rich foods matter with potassium-raising medicines. Ask a pharmacist.
Is jackfruit safe in pregnancy?
No official statement was found. Ask your doctor.
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against the sources listed.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We started from our existing jackfruit summary and searched PubMed by title for reviews, trials, glycaemic and allergy papers. Only abstracts were read for studies. Items we could not verify are flagged in the research gaps.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.
Sources 14
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- . Allergy to jackfruit: a novel example of Bet v 1-related food allergy (Bolhaar 2004, Allergy). . . (abstract)
- . Identification of Bet v 1-related allergens in fig and other Moraceae fruits (Hemmer 2010, Clin Exp Allergy). . . (abstract)
- . Nutritional assessment of a jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) meal (Hettiaratchi 2011, Ceylon Med J). . . (abstract)
- . Jackfruit anaphylaxis in a latex allergic patient (Wongrakpanich 2015). . . (abstract)
- . Jackfruit anaphylaxis in a latex allergic non-healthcare worker (Jalil 2021, Allergy Rhinol). . . (abstract)
- . Efficacy of green jackfruit flour as a medical nutrition therapy replacing rice or wheat in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Rao 2021, Nutr Diabetes). . . (abstract)
- . Jackfruit in health and disease: a critical review (Gupta 2023, Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr). . . (abstract)
- . Jackfruit anaphylaxis due to cross reactivity with latex (Dey 2023). . . (abstract)
- . Efficacy of jackfruit components in prevention and control of human disease: a scoping review (Tripathi 2023, J Educ Health Promot). . . (abstract)
- . Three cases of jackfruit allergy in Canada: a case series (Wierenga 2026, Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol). . . (abstract)
- . Oral allergy syndrome to a jackfruit (Wuthrich 1997, Allergy). . . (abstract)
- . FDA: Selecting and Serving Produce Safely. . . (full-text)
- . MedlinePlus: Potassium. . . (full-text)
- . USDA FoodData Central: Jackfruit, raw (SR Legacy, FDC 174687). . . (summary-only)
