Citrus extract shows weight management potential: Study

A blend of extracts from red orange, grapefruit, sweet orange, and guarana can reduce abdominal fat, waist and hip circumference, French researchers have found.

Led by Constantin Dallas, from the French supplier of the extract, Fytexia, the researchers observed a 5.71% reduction in waist circumference among those in the ‘Sinetrol-XPur’ study group  compared to 1.56% in the placebo group.

Similarly the findings published in Phytotherapy Research in April recorded hip size falling 4.71% compared to 1.35% in the placebo group, and a 9.73% vs 3.18% reduction in fat.

They concluded: “We suggest that consumption of Sinetrol-XPur produces beneficial changes in body fat composition and improves inflammatory, glycemic, and oxidative status in overweight healthy individuals.”

“When taken twice a day for 12 weeks, Sinetrol-XPur supplement was well tolerated with no adverse effects. However, additional research is warranted to delve deeper into the mechanisms of action and confirm these results over a longer period.”

Study details

The 12-week randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial study involved 95 overweight individuals divided into study (47) and placebo (48) groups. Sinetrol-XPur or placebo was given to them twice daily with meals.

They lived in or around Paris, were middle class, aged between 22 and 45 and had a body mass index (BMI) of 26–29.9 kg/m2.

The 450mg extract was standardised to contain at least 90% of total polyphenols (expressed as catechin), at least 20% of total flavanones (expressed as naringin) and between 1% and 3% of natural caffeine.

Aside from the measures noted above, the study had secondary targets including blood pressure, heart rate, lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, TG, ApoA1, and ApoB), glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), kidney function (Na, K, urea, and creatinine), inflammation markers (fibrinogen and CRP), liver function (alanine, alanine amino transaminase, aspartate amino transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and creatine phosphokinase), and oxidative status (SOD, MDA, and GSH).

Source: 

Phytotherapy Research

doi: 10.1002/ptr.4981

‘Clinical Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of a Citrus Polyphenolic Extract of Red Orange, Grapefruit, and Orange (Sinetrol-XPur) on Weight Management and Metabolic Parameters in Healthy Overweight Individuals’

Authors: Dallas, C., Gerbi, A., Elbez, Y., Caillard, P., Zamaria, N. and Cloarec, M