title: Flavanones protect from arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women consuming grapefruit juice for 6 mo: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The consumption of citrus fruits is associated with health benefits. However, clinical data regarding the effects of grapefruit flavanone consumption on vascular function are lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study was to address the role of flavanones in the long-term effects induced by grapefruit juice (GFJ) consumption on vascular function in healthy postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight healthy postmenopausal women aged 50-65 y within 3-10 y since menopause, a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) of 19-30, and a waist size >88 cm completed this double-blind, randomized, controlled, crossover trial. These volunteers were randomly assigned to consume 340 mL GFJ/d, providing 210 mg naringenin glycosides, or a matched control drink without flavanones for 6 mo each, with a 2-mo washout between beverages. The primary endpoint was the assessment of endothelial function in the brachial artery by using flow-mediated dilation. Blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and endothelial function in the peripheral arterial bed were also evaluated as indicators of vascular function. These measurements and blood collection for clinical biochemical markers were performed in overnight-fasted subjects before and after the 6-mo treatment periods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ± SD carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, which reflects central aortic stiffness, was statistically significantly lower after consumption of GFJ (7.36 ± 1.15 m/s) than after consumption of the matched control drink without flavanones (7.70 ± 1.36 m/s), with a P value of 0.019 for the treatment effect. Endothelial function in macro- and microcirculation, blood pressure, anthropometric measures, glucose metabolism, and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress were not affected by the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular GFJ consumption by middle-aged, healthy postmenopausal women is beneficial for arterial stiffness. This effect may be related to flavanones present in grapefruit. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01272167.
authors.affiliation: French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Joint Research Unit (UMR) 1019, Human Nutrition Unit (UNH), Research Center for Human Nutrition Auvergne (CRNH) Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), CIC 501, UMR 766, Clermont-Ferrand, France; and.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Habauzit
authors.affiliation: French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Joint Research Unit (UMR) 1019, Human Nutrition Unit (UNH), Research Center for Human Nutrition Auvergne (CRNH) Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, Clermont-Ferrand, France;
authors.forename: Marie-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verny
authors.affiliation: French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Joint Research Unit (UMR) 1019, Human Nutrition Unit (UNH), Research Center for Human Nutrition Auvergne (CRNH) Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, Clermont-Ferrand, France;
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Milenkovic
authors.affiliation: French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Joint Research Unit (UMR) 1019, Human Nutrition Unit (UNH), Research Center for Human Nutrition Auvergne (CRNH) Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Department of Cardiology, Gabriel Montpied Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barber-Chamoux
authors.affiliation: French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Joint Research Unit (UMR) 1019, Human Nutrition Unit (UNH), Research Center for Human Nutrition Auvergne (CRNH) Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, Clermont-Ferrand, France;
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), CIC 501, UMR 766, Clermont-Ferrand, France; and.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dubray
authors.affiliation: French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Joint Research Unit (UMR) 1019, Human Nutrition Unit (UNH), Research Center for Human Nutrition Auvergne (CRNH) Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; Clermont Université, Université d'Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, Clermont-Ferrand, France; christine.morand@clermont.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morand
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001628:Beverages; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D032083:Citrus paradisi / Q000737:chemistry*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D044950:Flavanones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D044950:Flavanones; C005273:naringenin
keywords: clinical trial; dietary flavanones; grapefruit juice; postmenopausal women; vascular function