MN&FR: orange juice reduces inflammation and improves immune function.
A regular glass of orange juice in the daily diet can trigger noticeable changes in the body's functioning at the genetic level. In a study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (MN&FR), scientists showed that people who drank about two glasses of 100% juice daily for two months experienced changes in the activity of more than 1,700 genes related to inflammation, vascular condition, and fat metabolism.
Researchers from the USA and Brazil studied immune cells from 20 healthy volunteers and found that regular consumption of juice reduces the activity of inflammatory genes and improves signals related to the functioning of the vascular system. Participants with normal body weight showed a stronger response in genes regulating inflammation, while overweight individuals experienced greater changes in genes responsible for fat metabolism and energy utilization.
Scientists attribute the effect to flavonoids—antioxidants from citrus fruits that have long been studied as potential protectors of the cardiovascular system. At the same time, the researchers emphasize that the study was small and lacked a control group, so larger clinical studies are needed to confirm the results.
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