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When you think of oranges, you probably picture a bright orange fruit. But some oranges have a deep red or even crimson interior.
This week, we're taking a closer look at Moro red oranges, a variety of blood orange particularly rich in colorful plant compounds called anthocyanins. These compounds have attracted attention for their antioxidant and metabolic effects, including their potential role in fat accumulation.
So, could something as simple as a red orange have an effect on weight and metabolic health?
What Makes a Red Orange Red?
Moro oranges are a variety of blood orange traditionally grown in Sicily. Their deep red color comes from anthocyanins, pigments also found in foods such as berries, purple cabbage, and cherries.
But anthocyanins aren't the only bioactive compounds in Moro oranges. They also contain flavone glycosides, hydroxycinnamic acids, and vitamin C.
Researchers are interested in the possibility that these compounds may work together rather than one compound being responsible for all of the effects.
Have you ever tried a Moro blood orange?
From Mice to Humans
Before testing Moro orange in people, researchers had already observed interesting effects in animal models.
In mice fed a high-fat diet, Moro orange juice reduced weight gain and abdominal and inguinal fat accumulation. Researchers also observed smaller fat cells and changes in pathways involved in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and insulin signaling.
So, researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 60 healthy adults who were overweight, who received either 400 mg per day of a Moro orange juice extract or a placebo for 12 weeks.
What Did They Find?
After 12 weeks, participants receiving the Moro orange extract experienced greater reductions in several measures than the placebo group.
Body weight: ↓ 3.08 kg vs. ↓ 0.41 kg
BMI: ↓ 1.11 kg/m² vs. ↓ 0.15 kg/m²
Waist circumference: ↓ 7.08 cm vs. ↓ 0.80 cm
Hip circumference: ↓ 5.96 cm vs. ↓ 0.69 cm
Reminder that they tested a concentrated Moro orange extract with no sugar rather than ordinary red orange juice.
The Takeaway
Moro red oranges contain a unique combination of anthocyanins and other citrus bioactives that researchers are investigating for potential metabolic effects.
The human findings are promising, but they're only one small piece of the evidence. However, we are on our way to understanding how the bioactive compounds in colorful plant foods may influence metabolic pathways.
Sometimes, the color of a food is a clue to the chemistry inside.
If you are interested in supporting research like this, please consider making a donation to the Angiogenesis Foundation.
Your support helps us conduct our own research into bioactive compounds, including anthocyanins, and their potential role in human health.
Download our Free Bioactive Spotlight Guide to learn more about the compounds inside red oranges.
Don’t miss this weeks youtube video with our mascot Dr. Angio bringing complex health and research topics to life.
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Best wishes,
- The Angiogenesis Foundation
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