NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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Cantaloupe Melon

Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis

Beta-carotene-rich, hydrating summer melon

Moderate evidence 🍎Fruits

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Moderate
Research weight
Citations
9 verified / 9
Classification
Fruits
❝
What the evidence says. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent.

Nutrition per serving 1 medium (552 g, edible)

552gSERVING
  • Water 498 g90%
  • Sugars 43.6 g8%
  • Fibre 5 g1%
  • Protein 4.4 g1%
  • Fat 1.1 g0%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).
Vitamin C100%+Vitamin A (RAE)100%+Potassium31%Folate29%Fiber18%Magnesium16%
One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
188 kcal4.4 g protein5 g fiber1.1 g fat
NutrientPer serving% daily value
Vitamin C203 mg225%
Vitamin A (RAE)933 mcg104%
Potassium1474 mg31%
Folate116 mcg29%
Fiber5 g18%
Magnesium66 mg16%
Beta-carotene11156 mcg0%
Vitamin K14 mcg11%
Sugars44 g0%

Composition data: USDA FoodData Central ↗

What is Cantaloupe Melon?

Cantaloupe Melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) is a fruit used for provitamin a (beta-carotene) source supporting vision and skin/epithelial health. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Moderate. Cantaloupe is a nutrient-dense, low-calorie fruit that is roughly 90% water and an excellent source of provitamin A beta-carotene and vitamin C, with meaningful potassium and folate. Direct clinical trials on cantaloupe itself are sparse; most human evidence is indirect, derived from its constituent nutrients and from broad fruit-intake cohorts. Large dose-response meta-analyses of prospective cohorts show that higher fruit and vegetable intake is associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (about 5% lower all-cause risk per added daily serving, plateauing near five servings). Trials of increased potassium intake reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension and are linked to roughly 24% lower stroke risk, and cantaloupe's beta-carotene is well-absorbed (bioavailability comparable to carrots). A small placebo-controlled pilot of a melon SOD concentrate (Extramel) reported improved perceived stress and fatigue, but it tested a proprietary supplement, not the whole fruit, and was industry-funded. Importantly, benefits attach to beta-carotene consumed as food; high-dose beta-carotene supplements increased lung cancer and mortality in smokers, so whole-fruit intake should not be extrapolated to pills.

Purported Benefits

✓Provitamin A (beta-carotene) source supporting vision and skin/epithelial health
✓High vitamin C contributing to antioxidant defense and collagen synthesis
✓Potassium intake associated with lower blood pressure and stroke risk
✓High water content (~90%) aiding hydration and satiety with low energy density
✓Part of higher fruit intake linked to lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality
✓Melon-derived superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrate studied for perceived stress/fatigue (proprietary supplement, not whole fruit)

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
1 cup diced (~160 g) to half a medium melon; ~150-300 g typical serving
Active Compounds
Carotenoids (beta-carotene, plus beta-apo-carotenals)Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)Potassium (electrolyte mineral)Folate (vitamin B9)Superoxide dismutase (antioxidant metalloenzyme, concentrated in flesh)Phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, ferulic acid)Cucurbitacins (bitter triterpenoids, trace)Soluble and insoluble dietary fiber (pectin, cellulose)

Safety & Cautions

Generally very safe as a food. Cantaloupe rind is a recognized vehicle for Listeria, Salmonella, and other pathogens (notably the 2011 US listeriosis outbreak); wash whole melons, refrigerate cut fruit promptly, and pregnant or immunocompromised people should take extra care. Its potassium content warrants moderation in advanced chronic kidney disease or for people on potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or ARBs. The natural sugar content is relevant for diabetes portion control. Oral allergy syndrome (ragweed/melon cross-reactivity) and rare latex-fruit allergy can occur. Whole-food beta-carotene is not equivalent to high-dose supplements, which are harmful in smokers. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Cantaloupe Melon with any medicine.

Key Studies

Dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs Filippini 2020 ✓ Full text
Dose-response meta-analysis of 32 RCTs found a U-shaped potassium-blood-pressure relationship; adequate (not excessive) potassium intake lowers BP, with strongest effect in hypertensive and high-sodium subgroups.
Systematic review of meta-analyses Yip 2019 ✓ Full text
Systematic review of meta-analyses: the first 100 g/day of fruit intake was associated with ~11% lower all-cause mortality (nonlinear RR 0.89) and ~14% lower stroke risk (RR 0.86).
Meta-analysis of RCTs Gijsbers 2016 ✓ Full text
Meta-analysis of 22 RCTs (1,086 subjects): potassium supplementation (median 2.5 g/day) had no significant effect on resting heart rate, supporting cardiovascular safety of higher potassium intake in healthy adults.
Systematic review / dose-response meta-analysis (prospective cohorts) Wang 2014 ✓ Full text
Dose-response meta-analysis of 16 prospective cohorts (833,234 participants, 56,423 deaths): each added daily serving of fruit and vegetables linked to 5% lower all-cause mortality (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98) and lower cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.96 per serving), with a threshold around 5 servings/day.
Systematic review & meta-analysis (RCTs + cohorts) Aburto 2013 ✓ Full text
Systematic review/meta-analyses (22 RCTs, 1,606 participants; 11 cohorts, 127,038 participants): higher potassium intake lowered systolic BP by 3.49 mmHg in adults (effect seen in hypertensives, not normotensives) and was associated with 24% lower stroke risk (RR 0.76).
Randomized controlled trial (pilot) Milesi 2009 ✓ Full text
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot (n=70): 10 mg/day melon SOD concentrate (Extramel, 140 IU SOD) significantly improved perceived stress, fatigue, and quality of life vs placebo over 4 weeks; industry-funded (Seppic/Air Liquide), tested a proprietary supplement not the whole fruit.
Randomized controlled trial ATBC Study Group 1994 ✓ Full text
In 29,133 male smokers, beta-carotene supplements (20 mg/day) increased lung cancer incidence by 18% and total mortality by 8% - a key caution that high-dose supplements differ from beta-carotene in whole foods.
Preclinical animal study Shafi 2022 ✓ Full text
Cucumis melo seed oil supplementation lowered total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL while raising HDL in hyperlipidemic rabbits, indicating anti-hyperlipidemic potential of melon by-products (preclinical).
Analytical / bioavailability study (HPLC-MS, Caco-2) Fleshman 2011 ✓ Full text
Orange-fleshed melons are rich in beta-carotene (cantaloupe ~176 mcg/g dry weight); in vitro digestion/Caco-2 bioavailability of melon beta-carotene was comparable to that of carrot.
9 sources cited · 9 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Cantaloupe Melon

What is Cantaloupe Melon used for?

Cantaloupe Melon is most often taken for Provitamin A (beta-carotene) source supporting vision and skin/epithelial health, High vitamin C contributing to antioxidant defense and collagen synthesis, Potassium intake associated with lower blood pressure and stroke risk, High water content (~90%) aiding hydration and satiety with low energy density. Beta-carotene-rich, hydrating summer melon

Does Cantaloupe Melon work — what does the evidence say?

Moderate evidence. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent. Cantaloupe is a nutrient-dense, low-calorie fruit that is roughly 90% water and an excellent source of provitamin A beta-carotene and vitamin C, with meaningful potassium and folate. Direct clinical trials on cantaloupe itself are sparse; most human evidence is indirect, derived from its constituent nutrients and from broad fruit-intake cohorts. Large dose-response meta-analyses of prospective cohorts show that higher fruit and vegetable intake is associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (about 5% lower all-cause risk per added daily serving, plateauing near five servings). Trials of increased potassium intake reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension and are linked to roughly 24% lower stroke risk, and cantaloupe's beta-carotene is well-absorbed (bioavailability comparable to carrots). A small placebo-controlled pilot of a melon SOD concentrate (Extramel) reported improved perceived stress and fatigue, but it tested a proprietary supplement, not the whole fruit, and was industry-funded. Importantly, benefits attach to beta-carotene consumed as food; high-dose beta-carotene supplements increased lung cancer and mortality in smokers, so whole-fruit intake should not be extrapolated to pills.

What is the typical dose of Cantaloupe Melon?

1 cup diced (~160 g) to half a medium melon; ~150-300 g typical serving

Is Cantaloupe Melon safe? Any cautions or side effects?

Generally very safe as a food. Cantaloupe rind is a recognized vehicle for Listeria, Salmonella, and other pathogens (notably the 2011 US listeriosis outbreak); wash whole melons, refrigerate cut fruit promptly, and pregnant or immunocompromised people should take extra care. Its potassium content warrants moderation in advanced chronic kidney disease or for people on potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or ARBs. The natural sugar content is relevant for diabetes portion control. Oral allergy syndrome (ragweed/melon cross-reactivity) and rare latex-fruit allergy can occur. Whole-food beta-carotene is not equivalent to high-dose supplements, which are harmful in smokers.

How many studies support Cantaloupe Melon?

NutriDex cites 9 sources for Cantaloupe Melon, graded "Moderate".

Cite this page
APA

Peh, D. (2026). Cantaloupe Melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 26 Jun 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/cantaloupe-melon

BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_cantaloupe_melon,
  author       = {Peh, Daryl},
  title        = {Cantaloupe Melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
  url          = {https://nutridex.info/s/cantaloupe-melon},
  note         = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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