Grapefruit Compound May Intervene in Diabetes

Naringenin is an antioxidant compound present in grapefruit. Previous studies have shown the compound to have cholesterol lowering properties and may ameliorate some of the symptoms associated with diabetes. Yaakov Nahmias, from Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), and colleagues have shown that naringenin promotes the cellular pathways (PPAR-alpha, PPAR-gamma and LXR-alpha) by which the liver breaks down fat and increases insulin sensitivity. Explaining that: “This effect results in the induction of a fasted-like state … in which fatty acid oxidation increases, while cholesterol and bile acid production decreases,” the team submits that: “Our findings explain the myriad effects of naringenin and support its continued clinical development.”