Lee Swanson Research Update

Flavanone Hesperidin May Help Benefit Heart Health

January 2011

Hesperidin, a flavanone found in orange juice, may significantly reduce blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to a new study.

"We observed favorable changes in blood pressure and endothelial function after the consumption of orange juice in healthy subjects and showed that the flavanone hesperidin could be responsible for the observed effects," said the researchers, led by Christine Morand of the French National Institute for Agronomic Research.

"At the anatomical level, these beneficial effects on blood circulation could be due to a positive effect of orange juice and hesperidin on blood vessel dilation and vessel resistance," said Morand, the lead author of the study.

Morand and her colleagues noted that a growing number of studies have shown a protective effect of polyphenol-rich foods including tea, wine and chocolate, against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

"This evidence is supported by results from numerous studies conducted in animal models, with nutritionally realistic levels of isolated flavonoids, and in humans with flavonoid-rich foods," they said.

They added that consumption of chocolate, green tea and soy protein isolate have been previously shown to exert beneficial effects on intermediate risk factors for CVD—such as LDL cholesterol, blood pressure and blood vessel functioning.

However, only a few clinical trials have dealt with the oral administration of chemically pure flavonoids. Morand and her co-workers said this makes it difficult to separate specific effects of certain flavonoid compounds from that of entire foods.

Hesperidin represents 90% of the total flavanones in orange juice, and according to previous research, it is highly bioavailable.

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of orange juice with those of pure hesperidin on blood vessel functioning, blood pressure and systemic markers linked to CVD risk—to determine whether hesperidin contributes to the protective effects of orange juice.

The researchers reported that blood pressure was significantly lowered after four weeks consumption of orange juice or a hesperidin-rich drink when compared to a placebo drink.

Both orange juice and the hesperidin drink significantly improved post-meal blood vessel reactivity compared with placebo, when measured at the peak of plasma hesperidin concentration.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Published online ahead of print.

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