Bitter Orange - NutraPedia

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Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium) Overview

1) Conditions Studied

Bitter orange has been studied for a variety of conditions, including:

  • Weight loss and obesity
  • Anxiety
  • Indigestion or dyspepsia
  • Exercise performance enhancement

2) Efficacy in Treating Conditions

While bitter orange is often marketed for these conditions, scientific evidence regarding its efficacy is mixed or insufficient:

  • Weight loss: Some evidence suggests it may slightly increase calorie burn in the short term, but long-term effectiveness and safety are unclear.
  • Anxiety: There is limited evidence to support the use of bitter orange for anxiety relief.
  • Indigestion: There is not enough reliable evidence to determine if bitter orange effectively treats indigestion.
  • Exercise performance: The effects on exercise performance are not well supported by strong scientific evidence.

3) Health Benefits

The proposed health benefits of bitter orange include:

  • Stimulating the digestive system
  • Potential thermogenic effects that may aid in weight loss
  • Temporary relief of nasal congestion

4) Downsides

Bitter orange has several potential downsides, including:

  • Containing synephrine, a compound similar to ephedrine, which may cause cardiovascular issues such as increased heart rate and blood pressure
  • Potential interactions with other medications, particularly those that affect the cardiovascular system
  • Risk of adverse effects when taken in large amounts or combined with other stimulants

5) Genetic Variations and Effects

The impact of bitter orange on different genetic variations is not well studied. However, individuals with certain genetic predispositions related to cardiovascular health or metabolism may experience different effects:

  • Those with genetic variations affecting heart rate and blood pressure regulation should exercise caution due to the stimulant effects of synephrine.
  • Genetic differences in drug metabolism could influence how an individual responds to bitter orange, potentially leading to increased risk of adverse effects.
  • More research is needed to conclusively determine the relationship between genetic variations and the effects of bitter orange.

Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium) and Weight Loss

Bitter Orange Overview: Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) and its synephrine alkaloids have been studied for their potential effects on weight loss and obesity treatment. Despite the ban on ephedra in the US, C. aurantium is being investigated as a safer alternative.

Efficacy and Safety Concerns:

Research indicates that synephrine may increase systolic and diastolic blood pressure without significantly affecting weight loss or body composition. Adverse cardiovascular events have been reported in association with synephrine intake, raising safety concerns.

Performance and Cognitive Function:

Studies suggest that pre-workout supplements with synephrine may improve cognitive function and exercise performance initially. However, these effects diminish over time, and synephrine does not significantly enhance benefits when combined with other supplements.

Antifungal Properties:

Oil of bitter orange (OBO) has shown promise as a topical antifungal treatment for dermatophyte infections, demonstrating both fungistatic and fungicidal properties.

Cardiovascular Risks:

Several case reports link synephrine consumption to serious cardiovascular issues, including heart attacks and strokes. This has led to concerns about the safety of "ephedra-free" weight-loss supplements containing bitter orange extracts.

Research Recommendations:

The need for more comprehensive and well-conducted clinical trials is emphasized to determine the true safety and efficacy of bitter orange and its compounds for weight loss and other health benefits.

Conclusion:

While some evidence suggests potential health benefits of bitter orange, caution is advised due to possible adverse effects, particularly concerning cardiovascular health. Further research is necessary to fully understand the implications of its use.

References:


  1. Citrus aurantium and synephrine alkaloids in the treatment of overweight and obesity: an update
  2. The Safety and Efficacy of Citrus aurantium (Bitter Orange) Extracts and p-Synephrine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  3. Effects of ingesting a pre-workout dietary supplement with and without synephrine for 8 weeks on training adaptations in resistance-trained males
  4. Oil of bitter orange: new topical antifungal agent
  5. Review of Case Reports on Adverse Events Related to Pre-workout Supplements Containing Synephrine
  6. Exercise-induced syncope associated with QT prolongation and ephedra-free Xenadrine
  7. Ischemic stroke associated with use of an ephedra-free dietary supplement containing synephrine
  8. Variant angina associated with bitter orange in a dietary supplement
  9. STEMI in a 24-year-old man after use of a synephrine-containing dietary supplement: a case report and review of the literature
  10. An evidence-based systematic review of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration
  11. Pharmacokinetic Interactions between Cardiovascular Medicines and Plant Products
  12. The effects of supplementation with P-Synephrine alone and in combination with caffeine on resistance exercise performance
  13. Acute p-synephrine ingestion increases whole-body fat oxidation during 1-h of cycling at Fatmax
  14. Effects of p-synephrine alone and in combination with selected bioflavonoids on resting metabolism, blood pressure, heart rate and self-reported mood changes
  15. Blood pressure and heart rate effects following a single dose of bitter orange
  16. Absence of QTc-interval-prolonging or hemodynamic effects of a single dose of bitter-orange extract in healthy subjects
  17. Acute cardiovascular effects of bitter orange extract (p-synephrine) consumed alone and in combination with caffeine in human subjects: A placebo-controlled, double-blind study
  18. Hemodynamic effects of ephedra-free weight-loss supplements in humans


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