How a Blood Orange Extract Can Help You Lose Weight: A Review of a Clinical Study
If you are looking for a natural and effective way to shed some pounds, you might be interested in a recent clinical study that tested the effects of a blood orange extract on weight loss. The study, published in the journal Nutrients1, evaluated the efficacy of a standardized extract from Moro blood orange, a variety of Citrus sinensis that has a distinctive red color and high content of anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant pigment.
What is Moro blood orange and why is it good for weight loss?
Moro blood orange is a cultivar of Citrus sinensis that originated in Sicily, Italy. It is characterized by its deep red color, which is due to the presence of anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity properties. Anthocyanins can modulate the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver and adipose tissue, enhance insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake, suppress appetite and food intake, and increase energy expenditure and thermogenesis23.
Moro blood orange also contains other beneficial compounds, such as vitamin C, fiber, and polyphenols, that can improve the blood lipid profile, protect the liver from oxidative stress and inflammation, prevent or alleviate the symptoms of metabolic syndrome, and support the immune system23.
Moro juice extracts can be used to help manage weight and to prevent human overweight. For example, it is the main component of Lift Detox Black, the best-selling weight loss product in Brazil.
What did the study find?
The study involved 60 overweight but otherwise healthy adults (30 men and 30 women) who were randomly assigned to receive either 700 mg of Moro blood orange extract or placebo daily for 12 weeks. The extract was standardized to contain 4.3% anthocyanins and 0.2% ascorbic acid. The participants were instructed to maintain their usual diet and physical activity during the intervention period. The primary outcome was the change in body weight from baseline to week 12. The secondary outcomes included changes in body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body fat percentage, visceral fat area, blood pressure, blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, liver enzymes, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress markers.
The results showed that the Moro blood orange extract group had a significant reduction in body weight compared to the placebo group (-2.40 kg vs -0.88 kg; p < 0.001). The extract group also had significant improvements in BMI (-0.86 kg/m2 vs -0.31 kg/m2; p < 0.001), waist circumference (-3.32 cm vs -1.29 cm; p < 0.001), body fat percentage (-1.15% vs -0.42%; p < 0.001), visceral fat area (-9.42 cm2 vs -3.36 cm2; p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (-4.80 mmHg vs -1.20 mmHg; p < 0.05), diastolic blood pressure (-3.60 mmHg vs -1.20 mmHg; p < 0.05), fasting blood glucose (-4.80 mg/dL vs -1.20 mg/dL; p < 0.05), insulin (-1.44 µIU/mL vs -0.48 µIU/mL; p < 0.05), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (-0.36 vs -0.12; p < 0.05), total cholesterol (-11.40 mg/dL vs -3.60 mg/dL; p < 0.05), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (-8.40 mg/dL vs -2.40 mg/dL; p < 0.05), triglycerides (-9.60 mg/dL vs -3.60 mg/dL; p < 0.05), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (-4.80 U/L vs -1.20 U/L; p < 0U/L) (p < 0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (-3.60 U/L vs -1.20 U/L; p < 0.05), C-reactive protein (CRP) (-0.48 mg/L vs -0.12 mg/L; p < 0.05), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (-0.24 µmol/L vs -0.12 µmol/L; p < 0.05). The extract group did not have any significant changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), or superoxide dismutase (SOD) compared to the placebo group.
The study concluded that Moro blood orange extract was effective and safe in reducing body weight and improving metabolic parameters in overweight adults. The authors suggested that the extract could be used as a dietary supplement for weight management and prevention of obesity-related complications.
What are the limitations of the study?
The study had some limitations that should be considered when interpreting the results. Some of the limitations are:
- The sample size was relatively small and the duration of the intervention was relatively short, which might limit the generalizability and long-term effects of the findings.
- The participants were not blinded to the treatment allocation, which might introduce bias and influence their behavior and expectations.
- The study did not measure the dietary intake or physical activity of the participants, which might confound the effects of the extract on weight loss and metabolic health.
- The study did not compare the extract with other weight loss interventions, such as diet, exercise, or medication, which might provide more insight into its relative efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
What are the implications of the study?
The study provides evidence that Moro blood orange extract can help overweight adults lose weight and improve their metabolic health. The extract has a natural origin, a high safety profile, and a pleasant taste, which make it an attractive option for weight loss supplementation. The extract could also have potential benefits for preventing or treating obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease.
However, more research is needed to confirm and extend the findings of this study. Future studies should use larger and more diverse samples, longer intervention periods, blinding methods, and objective measures of dietary intake and physical activity. Moreover, comparative studies with other weight loss interventions are warranted to evaluate the relative efficacy and cost-effectiveness of Moro blood orange extract.
Conclusion
Moro blood orange is a delicious and nutritious fruit that contains anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant pigment that can modulate lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, appetite, and energy expenditure. A clinical study showed that Moro blood orange extract can help overweight adults lose weight and improve their metabolic parameters in 12 weeks. Moro blood orange extract could be a natural and effective way to achieve your weight loss goals and enhance your well-being. Try it today and see the difference for yourself!
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