Citrus refers to a group of fruiting plants in the family Rutaceae, including species such as clementine and grapefruit, whose juices and derived products contain bioactive compounds like flavonoids, carotenoids, and pectins.
Healing Properties
A citrus formulation composed of clementine and pink grapefruit (60:40, v/v) and enriched in bioactive compounds could improve glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and vitamin A status following supplementation in fructose-fed rats.[1]
Glycemic Control
- In fructose-fed rats, consumption of the citrus concentrates improved glucose tolerance, fasting glycaemia, insulinaemia, insulin sensitivity, and lipid profile, with efficacy approaching that of metformin.[1:1]
- In citrus-treated rats, plasma glucose, insulin concentrations, and HOMA-IR values did not differ significantly from those observed in the control or metformin-treated groups.[1:2]
- In fructose-fed rats, compared with the original citrus juice, the membrane-processed concentrates produced broader metabolic improvements, particularly in parameters related to insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis, which are key features of the prediabetic state.[1:3]
- Diets rich in citrus fruits, as well as the consumption of orange and grapefruit juices, have been associated with improved glycemic control and a reduced risk of several chronic diseases, including diabetes.[1:4]
Lipid Metabolism
- In citrus-treated rats, triglyceride concentrations and LDL/HDL ratios did not differ significantly from those observed in the control or metformin-treated groups.[1:5]
Vitamin A Status
- Moreover, the citrus concentrates enhanced hepatic vitamin A stores in prediabetic rats.[1:6]
Metabolic Health
- In fructose-fed rats, these beneficial effects were observed irrespective of the sugar content of the concentrate, suggesting that the membrane-generated, bioactive-rich citrus matrix plays a key role beyond sugar reduction.[1:7]
- In fructose-fed rats, although the effects were generally less pronounced than those observed with metformin, the citrus concentrates showed potential as nutrient-dense dietary interventions for the early management of metabolic disturbances associated with MetS/T2D.[1:8]
Blood Pressure
- Likewise, supplementation with the citrus concentrates significantly decreased systolic blood pressure compared with untreated fructose-fed rats, reaching values of 127.65 ± 3.81 mmHg and 126.33 ± 3.69 mmHg in the DF0 and DF1 groups, respectively.[1:9]
Nutrient Composition
- Regular consumption of 100% citrus juices has been reported to provide important nutritional benefits and may contribute to attenuating risk factors associated with MetS.[1:10]
- Citrus juices are nutrient-dense beverages that naturally contain vitamins, minerals, soluble fibers, and a wide variety of phytochemicals, including flavonoids and carotenoids, whose composition depends on the citrus species and cultivar.[1:11]
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activity
- Citrus flavonoids have been extensively investigated for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and metabolic properties.[1:12]
Carotenoid Content
- In fructose-fed rats, lycopene from the grapefruit-containing citrus products was absorbed and accumulated in the liver, irrespective of the formulation administered.[1:13]
- Citrus fruits are also important dietary sources of carotenoids.[1:14]
- Provitamin A carotenoids, particularly β-cryptoxanthin, are abundant in many mandarin and clementine varieties, whereas pink grapefruit contains substantial amounts of lycopene, a non-provitamin A carotenoid.[1:15]
Title: A functional citrus-based food obtained by membrane process vs. metformin for the prevention of metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes in rats
Publication: Food Research International
Date: 2026-11-01
Study Type: Animal Study
Author(s): Claudie Dhuique-Mayer, Karen Lambert, Imane Hammad, Sophie di Corcia, Laetitia Gardes, Karine Portet, Didier Tousch, Patrick Poucheret, Manuel Dornier
Abstract: A membrane processing approach was used to produce citrus-based functional food enriched in carotenoids, hesperidin, and pectins. We assessed its potential to attenuate metabolic alterations associated with metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes (MetS/T2D) in fructose-fed rats. This formulation was administered daily (2 mL per rat) and compared with metformin, a reference antidiabetic treatment. Two versions of the product, differing in sugar content, were tested and compared with the original citrus juice used for processing. Consumption of the citrus concentrates improved glucose tolerance, fasting glycaemia, insulinaemia, insulin sensitivity, and lipid profile, with efficacy approaching that of metformin. Moreover, the citrus concentrates enhanced hepatic vitamin A stores in prediabetic rats. These beneficial effects were observed irrespective of the sugar content of the concentrate, suggesting that the membrane-generated, bioactive-rich citrus matrix plays a key role beyond sugar reduction. Compared with the original citrus juice, the membrane-processed concentrates produced broader metabolic improvements, particularly in parameters related to insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis, which are key features of the prediabetic state. Although the effects were generally less pronounced than those observed with metformin, the citrus concentrates showed potential as nutrient-dense dietary interventions for the early management of metabolic disturbances associated with MetS/T2D. The greater efficacy of the concentrates compared with the corresponding juice may be related to the enrichment and preservation of bioactive compounds within a pectin-rich citrus matrix generated by membrane processing. These findings support further investigation of membrane-engineered citrus products as functional foods for metabolic health.
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2026.120323
Source URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996926020107 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎