Consumption of Raw Orange, 100% Fresh Orange Juice, and Nectar- Sweetened Orange Juice-Effects on Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels on Healthy Subjects

Roles of citrus fruits on energy expenditure, body weight management, and metabolic biomarkers: a comprehensive review

Citrus fruits are widely consumed for their nutritional and health benefits. They belong to the Rutaceae and have many varieties, such as sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), which is the most popular. Citrus fruits are rich in water (>80%), dietary fiber, and vitamins. They also contain bioactive components, which may modulate energy metabolism and lipid oxidation through various mechanisms. These mechanisms include stimulating β3-adrenergic receptors, increasing mitochondrial biogenesis and thermogenesis, activating AMP kinase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α pathways, inhibiting lipogenesis and lipid accumulation, and inducing browning of white adipose tissue. This review summarizes the mechanisms and outcomes of citrus fruits and their metabolites on energy metabolism and body weight in different experimental models. The literature was searched for in vitro and in vivo animal and human studies that investigated the effects of citrus consumption on energy expenditure, thermogenesis, adipogenesis, and lipid accumulation. Citrus fruits and their metabolites have shown promising effects on energy metabolism and lipid oxidation in in vitro and in vivo animal studies. However, the evidence from human studies is limited and inconsistent. Possible reasons for the discrepancy are briefly discussed, and knowledge gaps and research needs are identified for future studies. Citrus fruits may have beneficial effects on energy metabolism and body weight, but more rigorous and well-designed human trials are needed to confirm their efficacy and safety.

Impact of habitual intake of glucosamine, fresh fruit, and tea on the risk of urolithiasis: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study

Dietary patterns have a significant impact on the occurrence of urolithiasis. This study aimed to investigate the causal relationships between the consumption of glucosamine, fresh fruits, and tea, and the predisposition to urinary stones using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Genetic proxies for these dietary factors were obtained from the UK Biobank, while the summary data for urolithiasis genome-wide association analyses were sourced from the FinnGen consortium. Five MR methodologies, namely inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression, weighted median, weighted mode, and simple mode, were employed in the analysis. To validate the findings, sensitivity evaluations such as the MR-PRESSO disruption test and Cochran Q test for heterogeneity were performed. The IVW method showed that glucosamine consumption had a strong inverse association with urolithiasis risk (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.006, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.0001-0.287, P = .009), surpassing the associations of fresh fruits (OR = 0.464, 95% CI 0.219-0.983, P = .045) and tea (OR = 0.550, 95% CI 0.345-0.878, P = .012). These findings were consistent when verified using alternative MR techniques, and the sensitivity analyses further supported their credibility. The results of this MR analysis demonstrate that regular consumption of glucosamine, fresh fruits, and tea is inversely correlated with the risk of developing urolithiasis.

Effects of fresh vs dried mango consumption on satiety and postprandial glucose in healthy adults

Mango is a widely favored fruit that offers high nutritional value. Mango has been studied to examine its influence on postprandial glucose, but few studies have used fresh mango compared to dried mango to measure blood glucose and satiety after consumption. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of fresh versus dried mango consumption on satiety and postprandial glucose. A crossover design was implemented where 34 healthy adults (29 females and 5 males; 25.0 ± 6.0 years; BMI 23.8 ± 4.3 kg/m²) consumed either 100 kcal of fresh mango, dried mango, or white bread on three separate occasions. Following consumption, satiety was assessed every 15 min for 90 min and blood glucose was assessed every 30 min for 90 min. Consumption of fresh mango results showed a significant increase in satiety (tendency of greater fullness (P = 0.073) and less desire to eat (P < 0.05)) in participants. Fresh mango exhibited a more efficient decrease in postprandial glucose levels (P < 0.05) compared to dried mango or white bread, and fresh mango promoted a greater stability in blood glucose. Dried mango consumption also significantly lowered postprandial glucose compared to white bread (P < 0.05). These results suggest that fresh mango consumption may be beneficial in improving satiety responses and postprandial glucose control when compared to its dried alternative or white bread. The results of the study may help guide individuals who are overweight or obese and/or have type 2 diabetes by altering their food choices that ultimately could improve their health. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03956602.

Antioxidant-Enriched Diet on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Gene Expression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is associated with beneficial effects against chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs). In particular, the content of micronutrients leads to an improvement of the oxidative and inflammatory profiles. A randomized, parallel, controlled study, on 24 subjects, was conducted to evaluate if 2-week supplementation with a mixed apple and bergamot juice (MAB juice), had a positive impact on the body composition, the biochemical profile, and oxidative and inflammatory gene expression (Superoxide dismutase (SOD1), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ), catalase (CAT), chemokine C-C motif ligand 5 (CCL5), Nuclear Factor Kappa B Subunit 1 (NFKB1), Vitamin D Receptor (VDR), and Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF)), respect to a MedDiet. Body composition evaluation analysis showed a gain in lean mass (p < 0.01). Moreover, a significant reduction in total cholesterol/HDL index (p < 0.01) was pointed out between the two groups. Gene expression analysis highlighted an increase in MIF (p ≤ 0.05), PPARγ (p < 0.001), SOD1 (p ≤ 0.05), and VDR (p ≤ 0.05) expressions when comparing MedDiet and MedDiet + MAB juice groups. These data based on the nutrigenomics approach demonstrated that supplementing 2 weeks of MAB juice to the MedDiet could contribute to a reduction in the risk of CNCDs.

Hesperidin Functions as an Ergogenic Aid by Increasing Endothelial Function and Decreasing Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation, Thereby Contributing to Improved Exercise Performance

The regulation of blood flow to peripheral muscles is crucial for proper skeletal muscle functioning and exercise performance. During exercise, increased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation leads to increased electron leakage and consequently induces an increase in ROS formation, contributing to DNA, lipid, and protein damage. Moreover, exercise may increase blood- and intramuscular inflammatory factors leading to a deterioration in endurance performance. The aim of this review is to investigate the potential mechanisms through which the polyphenol hesperidin could lead to enhanced exercise performance, namely improved endothelial function, reduced exercise-induced oxidative stress, and inflammation. We selected in vivo RCTs, animal studies, and in vitro studies in which hesperidin, its aglycone form hesperetin, hesperetin-metabolites, or orange juice are supplemented at any dosage and where the parameters related to endothelial function, oxidative stress, and/or inflammation have been measured. The results collected in this review show that hesperidin improves endothelial function (via increased NO availability), inhibits ROS production, decreases production and plasma levels of pro-inflammatory markers, and improves anaerobic exercise outcomes (e.g., power, speed, energy). For elite and recreational athletes, hesperidin could be used as an ergogenic aid to enhance muscle recovery between training sessions, optimize oxygen and nutrient supplies to the muscles, and improve anaerobic performance.

Is sugar extracted from plants less healthy than sugar consumed within plant tissues? The sugar anomaly

There are dilemmas in the minds of consumers with respect to sugar consumption - they would like to consume sugars for sweetness, but in a healthy (and perhaps guilt free!) way. In a sense, consumers believe that if sugar does not appear as an ingredient on the product label, but is intrinsic in the food (and will appear as a nutrient), it is 'good'. As an ingredient, however, it is viewed as a 'bad chemical' associated with tooth decay and obesity. The reality is that unless processing induced modifications have occurred, the sugar molecule within a plant tissue is the same molecule structure as present in purified sugar. The same calorific value. However, there is an argument that humans eat too refined food and that if sugars were eaten in their natural context (e.g. within a fruit), their presence and concentration would be in harmony (where different nutrients complement and balance the sugar concentration) with the human body. This reflects the process of eating, satiety, presence of other nutrients (including water) and the associated impact of the indigestible components of plant foods on the transit/nutrient bioavailability control and thus benefits through the gut. The authors explore these issues in this article and seek to provide a scientific basis to different sides of the argument - sugar is good or bad depending on how (in which format and how much/how concentrated) it is consumed. More importantly perhaps, how should sugar consumption - an important nutrient - be managed to optimize the benefits but reduce the disadvantages? © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Electrochemical non-enzymatic glucose sensors: recent progress and perspectives

This review summarizes recent advances in the development of electrocatalysts for non-enzymatic glucose detection. The sensing mechanism and influencing factors are discussed, and the perspectives and challenges are also addressed.

Effect of fresh pomegranate juice on the level of melatonin, insulin, and fasting serum glucose in healthy individuals and people with impaired fasting glucose

Pomegranate juice (PGJ) is rich in unique bioactive compounds that can be used in the management of various diseases/disorders such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of fresh PGJ on levels of melatonin, insulin, and fasting blood glucose in people with impaired fasting glucose (IFG). The study was a randomized clinical trial in which 28 participants (10 males, 18 females) with IFG were recruited from Irbid Central Laboratory and the Diabetes Clinic of the University Hospital at Jordan University of Science and Technology. Blood specimens from each participant were collected before (-5 min), and 1 and 3 hr after PGJ administration at 1.5 ml/kg of the body weight, and melatonin, insulin, and glucose were measured. People with IFG, but not healthy individuals, had significant antihyperglycemic response (p < .0001) to PGJ 3 hr after ingesting the juice. This response was not correlated with the age of participants (p = .4287). In addition, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance was significantly decreased (p < .0001) among people with IFG 3 hr after ingesting the juice. Moreover, 1 hr after PGJ administration, decreases in melatonin and increases in insulin were significantly observed among healthy (p = .0284, p = .0017) and IFG (p = .0056, p = .0007) individuals, respectively. In conclusion, fresh PGJ lowers melatonin, increases the level of insulin, and ameliorates insulin resistance in people with IFG.