Obesity increases the risk of suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and certain liver diseases but also cardiovascular illnesses, due to oxidative stress caused by the accumulation of fat in the body. Fat cells produce an overreaction that damages all cells in the body.
To combat this oxidative stress, researchers from the Estadual Paulista University in Brazil conducted an experiment on fifty mice, giving them flavonoids found in citrus fruits as a supplement to their diet. These flavonoids were essentially hesperidin, eriocitrin and eriodictyol.
No weight loss but better health
The mice were then divided into several groups and fed either a standard diet or a high-fat diet with one of the flavonoids. They found that hesperidin, eriocitrin and eriodyctiol decreased the levels of certain markers of oxidative stress (called lipid peroxidation) in the liver by 50%, 57% and 64%, respectively. And also decreased the level of these markers in the blood.
“Our study shows no weight loss due to citrus flavonoids”says Professor Thais Cesar, who led the team of researchers. “However, even without helping the mice lose weight, they reduced oxidative stress, decreased liver damage, and lowered blood sugar.” He adds : “This study also suggests that citrus consumption may also have beneficial effects on people who are not obese but have a diet high in fat, which puts them at risk for developing cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome“.
The researchers will now study the best way to administer these flavonoids, whether in the form of juice, by consuming the whole fruit or in developing a dietary supplement rich in antioxidants.
This study was presented at the Annual Congress of the American Chemical Society and relayed by Eurekaert.
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