A new study done by researchers at the University of Western Ontario has shown that citrus fruits contain a flavonoid known as naringenin. It helps in burning the extra fat that accumulates in the body thereby keeping a check on the weight gain.
Moreover, naringenin has properties akin to insulin
, so this helps keep a check on the Type-2 diabetes.
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are basically present in plants and help in increasing the anti-oxidant action in the human body. Their mechanism consists of reprogramming the liver genetically so that surplus fat gets burned up, instead of getting accumulating in the body.
Study details
For the latest study purposes, the researchers at the university made two groups of mice. The first group was fed a diet high in fat content so as to bring about the symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
On the other hand, the second group was given exactly the same diet but treated with naringenin.
It was discovered that naringenin controlled the increase in triglyceride and cholesterol levels. This averted the progress of opposition to insulin leading to a perfect glucose metabolism in mice.
Murray Huff of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at the university, was quoted as saying, “Furthermore, the marked obesity that develops in these mice was completely prevented by naringenin.”
Huff further added, “What was unique about the study was that the effects were independent of caloric intake, meaning the mice ate exactly the same amount of food and the same amount of fat. There was no suppression of appetite or decreased food intake, which are often the basis of strategies to reduce weight gain and its metabolic consequences.”
Elaborate studies to be conducted
Huff and his team are now testing the pharmacological properties of naringenin. They will conduct elaborate studies in order to gauge the reliability and safety of naringenin in human beings.
They will also be looking at whether naringenin can control obesity and other metabolic problems.
“These studies show naringenin, through its insulin-like properties, corrects many of the metabolic disturbances linked to insulin resistance and represents a promising therapeutic approach for metabolic syndrome,” concluded Huff.
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