Scientists have found that a novel food supplement containing citrus and red grape extracts, hesperidin, and chromium significantly improves metabolic health in individuals with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), a prediabetic condition. This six-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Frontiers in Nutrition showed notable reductions in fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides, suggesting a promising strategy to manage prediabetes and reduce cardiovascular risks.
Impaired fasting glucose, marked by elevated blood sugar levels not yet meeting diabetes criteria, affects millions worldwide and increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. While lifestyle changes remain primary treatment, adherence challenges have prompted researchers to explore nutritional supplements that may offer complementary benefits.
The study enrolled 62 Italian adults aged 18-75 with impaired fasting glucose (blood glucose 100–125 mg/dL), randomly assigning them to receive either the supplement or placebo. The supplement delivered 250 µg chromium and 560 mg total flavonoids—extracted from Citrus limon (lemon), Vitis vinifera (red grape), and Citrus sinensis (orange)—alongside dietary counseling for an isocaloric DASH diet. Blood samples were taken at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months to measure glucose metabolism, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and lipid profiles.
The supplemented group normalized fasting blood glucose as early as 3 months, maintaining levels within the normal range at 6 months, while the placebo group remained in the prediabetic range. LDL cholesterol decreased significantly from 114 to 73 mg/dL, HDL cholesterol increased markedly, and triglycerides declined, contrasting with increased triglycerides in the control group. HbA1c improved only in the supplemented group, though insulin and HOMA-IR showed no significant treatment effect. Safety markers, including liver and kidney function tests, indicated excellent tolerability.
The combination supplement works through multiple mechanisms: chromium enhances insulin receptor signaling and glucose uptake, while flavonoids like hesperidin modulate insulin-dependent pathways and reduce inflammation.
Lead researchers highlight this multi-ingredient approach as a valuable adjunct to lifestyle interventions, potentially offering safe and effective management of early impaired glucose metabolism while mitigating cardiovascular risk. Further larger-scale and longer-term studies are warranted to confirm and extend these findings.
REFERENCE: Di Minno, A., Morone, M. V., Buccato, D. G., De Lellis, L. F., Ullah, H., Borromeo, L., Cerqua, A., Piccinocchi, R., Greco, A., Santonastaso, S., Larsen, D. S., El-Seedi, H., Riccioni, C. V., Baldi, A., Piccinocchi, G., Xiao, X., Sacchi, R., & Daglia, M. (2025). Impact of a food supplement containing Citrus limon L. Osbeck and Vitis vinifera L. extracts, hesperidin and chromium in combination with an isocaloric diet on glucose and lipid metabolism in subjects with impaired fasting blood glucose, a single-center, controlled, randomized, parallel-arm, double-blind clinical trial. Frontiers in Nutrition, 12. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1671102.
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