Effectiveness of “Moro” Blood Orange Citrus sinensis Osbeck (Rutaceae) Standardized Extract on Weight Loss in Overweight but Otherwise Healthy Men and Women—A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a blood orange Citrus sinensis standardized extract from “Moro” cultivar, on weight loss in overweight but otherwise healthy individuals. Anthocyanins and particularly cyanidin 3-glucoside, found in a large variety of fruits including Sicilian blood oranges, can help to counteract weight gain and to reduce body fat accumulation through the modulation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and metabolic pathways. In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study, all participants (overweight adults aged 20–65 years old) were randomized to receive either Moro blood orange standardized extract or a placebo daily for 6-months. The primary outcome measure was change in body mass and body composition at the end of the study. After 6-months, body mass (4.2% vs. 2.2%, p = 0.015), body mass index (p = 0.019), hip (3.4 cm vs. 2.0 cm, p = 0.049) and waist (3.9 cm vs. 1.7 cm, p = 0.017) circumferences, fat mass (p = 0.012) and fat distribution (visceral and subcutaneous fat p = 0.018 and 0.006, respectively) were all significantly better in the extract supplemented group compared to the placebo (p < 0.05). In addition, all safety markers of liver toxicity were within the normal range throughout the study for both analyzed groups. Concluding, the present study demonstrates that Moro blood orange standardized extract may be a safe and effective option for helping with weight loss when used in conjunction with diet and exercise.

Blood orange juice intake changes specific bacteria of gut microbiota associated with cardiometabolic biomarkers

“…Although the literature reports increasing in weight gain and adiposity, we did not observe significant change in anthropometric parameters throughout the study. Briskey et al (2022) and Cardile et al (2015) showed significant reduction of body mass, BMI, hip and waist circumferences, fat mass, and fat distribution in overweight adults however these studies used Moro orange extract daily for 3 or 6 months. As in these studies, we also observed significant changes in the cardiometabolic markers in response to MOJ intake, especially in women with insulin resistance.…”

“…Several recent studies have investigated the benefits of blood orange juice intake, especially of the Moro variety ( Dorna et al, 2021 ; Nishioka et al, 2021 ; Ribeiro et al, 2021 ; Briskey et al, 2022 ; Santana et al, 2022 ; Capetini et al, 2023 ). However, the effects of MOJ on the gut microbiota profiles have not been investigated in detail.…”

Microencapsulation of anthocyanins extracted from black soybean peels by whey protein/fructo‐oligosaccharide contributes to improved stability, bioavailability, and ability to regulate glycolipid metabolism

“…Currently, more than 700 ANCs and derivatives have been identified from the natural world and processed food (He & Giusti, 2010; Veitch & Grayer, 2008), of which 6 are more common, including cyanidins, delphinidins, pelargonidin, peonidin, petunidin, and malvidin (Routray & Orsat, 2011). It has been clinically documented that ANCs possess diversified health‐promoting properties, such as anti‐inflammatory (do Rosario et al., 2021), anti‐obesity (Briskey et al., 2022), antioxidant (Cai et al., 2020), hypoglycemic (Wedick et al., 2012), and hypolipidemic (Zhang, Xu, et al., 2020). Obesity is considered to be a multifactorial disease characterized by excessive accumulation of fat (Kivimäki et al., 2022), and hyperglycemia is one of its serious complications, which seriously endangers human health.…”

Hetero-grafting affects flavonoid biosynthesis in sweet orange 'Newhall' (Citrus sinensis) peels: a metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis

“…The most prevalent flavonoids are flavonols, which are found naturally in plant vacuoles as glycoside derivatives ( Xing et al., 2021 ). Most citrus species are incapable of producing anthocyanins, but they are excellent study materials for flavanones and flavones in fruit ( Fabroni et al., 2016 ; Briskey et al., 2022 ). Plant growth, adaptability, signal transduction, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors are all impacted by flavonoids ( Li and Schluesener, 2017 ; Li et al., 2017 ).…”