A recent study from Western University has found that a natural compound found in sweet oranges and tangerines, called nobiletin, may help reduce obesity, lower diabetes risk, and protect against heart disease.
In experiments with mice, researchers discovered that those fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet while also receiving nobiletin stayed leaner and had lower levels of insulin resistance and blood fats compared to mice that did not receive the compound.
Even more impressively, in mice that had already developed obesity, treatment with nobiletin reversed many of the negative health effects. The compound even helped to reduce plaque build-up in the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
How Does Nobiletin Work?
Scientists initially thought that nobiletin might be affecting AMP Kinase, a key regulator in the body that burns fat for energy and blocks fat production. However, further testing showed that nobiletin works through a different pathway, bypassing AMP Kinase altogether.
This is an important discovery because it means that nobiletin will not interfere with medications that target AMP Kinase, making it a potentially safe option for people taking other drugs for obesity, diabetes, or heart disease.
What’s Next?
While these results are promising, the next step is to test nobiletin in human trials to see if it provides the same metabolic benefits. If successful, this natural compound from citrus fruits could become a new way to manage weight, blood sugar, and heart health without the side effects of traditional medications.
The study, led by Murray Huff, was published in the Journal of Lipid Research. Scientists hope that further research will confirm whether nobiletin could be used as a natural supplement to fight obesity and related diseases.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies that hop extract could reduce belly fat in overweight people, and early time-restricted eating could help lose weight.
For more health information, please see recent studies about a simple path to weight loss, and results showing a non-invasive treatment for obesity and diabetes.
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