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The Efficacy of Ruby Red Grapefruit Consumption on Weight, Blood Pressure, and Lipid Control in Overweight and Obese Adults
Author(s) -
Dow Caitlin Ann,
Patil Bhimanagouda,
Ravia Jennifer,
Thomson Cynthia
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.594.9
Subject(s) - overweight , blood pressure , obesity , washout , lipid profile , blood lipids , medicine , meal , zoology , weight loss , cholesterol , endocrinology , biology
Folklore has suggested that consuming grapefruit may promote weight control. Sparse data exist to support this, though there is some evidence of health promotional effects on blood pressure and lipid profiles. We hypothesized that the consumption of one and a half grapefruit per day with meals would result in a significant reduction in weight and blood pressure, and an improvement in the lipid profiles of overweight and obese men and women. Following a three week washout diet where no citrus fruit and a low bioactive diet was consumed, subjects were randomized to either a control group (n=17) where they continued consuming the washout diet, or an intervention group (n=34), where subject's continued the washout diet and supplemented their diet with half of a whole ruby red grapefruit before each meal for 6 weeks. Preliminary analysis from Cohort 1 (n=51) suggests a non‐significant decrease in weight (0.54 kg). Systolic blood pressure decreased by 3.0 mmHg in a manner approaching significance (p=0.096). Improvements were observed in the lipid profile, with total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) significantly decreasing following grapefruit consumption by 11.5 mg/dL (p=.04) and 16.4 mg/dL (p=.03), respectively. No significant changes were observed in the control group in any of the parameters measured. This ongoing study suggests that while ruby red grapefruit consumption may not significantly decrease body weight or blood pressure, significant decreases in total cholesterol and LDL were observed. Supported by USDA 2009‐34402‐19831.