To keep your heart healthy, try drinking more orange juice

YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH & WELLNESS

MEDICAL NEWS TODAY

Orange juice delivers a full menu of good things for the heart, according to a new look at the popular beverage from a molecular point of view.

A recent study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food ResearchTrusted Source found that orange juice broadly affected genes involved in physiological activity related to heart health, inhibiting unwanted processes and promoting beneficial ones.

Orange juice dampened — or downregulated — hypertension (high blood pressure) genes. Hypertension can lead to stroke, heart attacks and heart failure.

It did the same for inflammatory genes. Inflammation can lead to cardiac events by constricting and damaging blood vessels, as well as promoting the formation of dangerous plaque buildup.

At the same time, orange juice upregulated – promoted – the activity of genes responsible for metabolizing fat, helping the body process and store it more efficiently.

The study also found two body-type-dependent effects. Fat metabolism was particularly optimized by orange juice in people with overweight. People of normal weight saw a greater reduction in systemic inflammation.

Orange juice lowers inflammation, blood pressure

The study’s first author, Layanne Nascimento Fraga, PhD, of the Food Research Center and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo in Brazil, explained the study’s novel perspective on orange juice to Medical News Today.

“What’s unique about our study,” said Nascimento Fraga, “is that we used the transcriptomic approach to evaluate the effects of orange juice on the entire metabolic system, allowing us to see how multiple pathways are modulated simultaneously.”

“We found that orange juice improves key cardiometabolic markers, including inflammation, oxidative stress, blood pressure and lipid metabolism, showing that several mechanisms act together to produce its health benefits.”

After factoring for duplicates, the researchers found 1,705 differentially expressed genes affected by orange juice in this study, 98% of which were downregulated, according to Fraga.

How does orange juice protect heart health?

Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, a preventive cardiology dietitian at Entirely Nourished, who was not involved in this research, told MNT that, prior to this study, “other clinical trials and meta-analyses showed modest reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, particularly in adults with pre- or stage 1 hypertension.“

“This is because orange juice, especially after meals, increases plasma hesperetin, which is a flavonoid that may improve endothelial function and microvascular reactivity,” Routhenstein explained.

Jayne Morgan, MD, cardiologist and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart, likewise not involved in this study, said that other foods hold promise for cardiovascular health, as well.

Morgan advised that “anti-inflammatory spices and herbs — such as turmeric and garlic — chia, hemp seeds, beets, and beet juice” might also benefit from similar molecular investigations.

And Cheng-Han Chen, MD, an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, also not involved in this research, commented on the study’s investigative approach.

“It’s interesting, but I’m more interested in how this connects to outcomes,” Chen told us.

He expressed some doubt regarding the meaning of orange juice’s heart-health benefits when viewed from a molecular angle, since, “from a clinician’s perspective, it’s easy enough to measure blood pressure.“

“We can also measure lipids easily enough” in a clinical trial, he said.

Should you drink a lot of orange juice?

“Everything in moderation, including orange juice,” Morgan advised people who may now feel tempted to up their orange juice intake.

“Orange juice likely has a U-shaped curve, wherein small–moderate amounts are likely helpful for improved endothelial function, decreased arterial stiffness, and mild-anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects from the citrus flavonoid. And blood pressure health from the potassium. Most Americans are actually potassium-deficient, so orange juice is helpful.”

– Jayne Morgan, MD

Morgan cautioned, however, that “larger amounts [of vitamin C] drive increased sugar loads and all of the risks inherent, such as insulin spikes, weight gain and visceral fat, especially in perimenopausal and menopausal women.”

“I always recommend to my patients that they eat lots of fruit, including oranges, though I don’t say they should drink juices so much. When you extract juices, you leave behind things like fiber. Fiber helps even out the sudden release of sugar from juices,” Chen also advised.

“I haven’t recommended orange juice specifically,” he added.

Routhenstein suggested “further studying whole fruits, including the fiber-rich membranes and the white, spongy albedo, which is high in fiber and flavonoids, could clarify how the fruit matrix influences bioavailability and gene responses compared with juice alone.”