Abstract
Individuals with obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, in part due to heightened inflammatory/oxidative processes. Results from epidemiologic and experimental studies suggest that citrus, and grapefruit in particular, may have a role in promoting vascular health, although clinical trial data are lacking. Here, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory/antioxidant effects of habitual grapefruit consumption in 69 overweight/obese men and women and in a subsample of participants with MetS (n = 29). Participants were randomly assigned to either a grapefruit group in which they consumed a low bioactive diet plus 1.5 grapefruit/d for 6 wk (n = 37, n = 14 with MetS) or to a control condition in which a low bioactive diet devoid of citrus was consumed (n = 32, n = 15 with MetS). Plasma soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and urinary F2-isoprostanes were evaluated before and after the intervention phase. F2-isoprostane concentrations were not different in the grapefruit versus control arm after the intervention (12.4 ± 6.4 vs. 15.9 ± 9.0 ng/mg creatinine, P = 0.16), whereas plasma hsCRP concentrations tended to be lower in the grapefruit versus control arm postintervention (2.1 ± 1.5 vs. 2.8 ± 2.0 mg/L, P = 0.09). In adults with MetS, grapefruit consumption tended to result in lower postintervention F2-isoprostane concentrations compared with the control condition (12.0 ± 4.5 vs. 18.3 ± 10.9 ng/mg creatinine, P = 0.06). Furthermore, those with high baseline F2-isoprostane concentrations experienced significant reductions in this biomarker in response to grapefruit consumption (P = 0.021). Change in sVCAM-1 concentrations did not vary by treatment arm nor were there differences between arms postintervention. These results suggest that intake of grapefruit twice daily for 6 wk does not significantly reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, although there is a suggestion of favorable modulation of oxidative stress in overweight and obese adults with MetS or those with high baseline urine F2-isoprostane concentrations.
