Scientists from Western University have discovered that a natural compound found in sweet oranges and tangerines, called nobiletin, may help reduce obesity and protect against diabetes and heart disease.
The study, led by Dr. Murray Huff and published in the Journal of Lipid Research, showed promising results in mice and could lead to new treatments for people in the future.
In the study, researchers fed mice a diet high in fat and cholesterol—similar to what many people eat today. Some of the mice were also given nobiletin. The mice that received this citrus compound were noticeably leaner and had lower levels of blood fats and insulin resistance, which is a warning sign for type 2 diabetes.
In contrast, the mice that ate the unhealthy diet without nobiletin became overweight and developed symptoms related to obesity.
What’s even more exciting is that when nobiletin was given to mice that were already obese, it helped reverse some of the harmful effects. Not only did the mice lose weight, but they also showed a reduction in plaque build-up in their arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
The scientists believe that nobiletin works by affecting how the body processes fat. Normally, a key pathway called AMP Kinase helps the body burn fat and stop new fat from being made. At first, researchers thought nobiletin was working through this pathway.
But when they tested it more closely, they found that nobiletin’s effects didn’t rely on AMP Kinase at all. This was surprising—but also good news—because it means nobiletin probably won’t interfere with medicines that do act on AMP Kinase, such as some diabetes drugs.
Even though the exact way nobiletin works is still unclear, the results so far are very encouraging. The next step is to see whether the same benefits happen in people. Human trials will help researchers understand if this citrus compound can be used as a safe and natural way to prevent or treat obesity-related diseases.
For now, this study adds to the growing interest in using natural compounds found in foods to improve health. Nobiletin is already part of many people’s diets through citrus fruits, but researchers are working to better understand how much is needed to have a medical effect.
While we wait for more research, this study is a good reminder that foods like oranges and tangerines not only taste good—they may also contain powerful health-protecting ingredients.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about bananas and diabetes, and honey could help control blood sugar.
For more health information, please see recent studies about Vitamin D that may reduce dangerous complications in diabetes and results showing plant-based protein foods may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
