A surprising new discovery will help fight obesity and heart problems. The University of Western Ontario has carried out research and discovered a substance in tangerines that helps obesity and gives protection against type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis.
Nobiletin is found in high concentrations in the tangerine fruit. The research was published on Science Daily.
Mice were given nobiletin which is part of the family of molecules known as flavonoids naturally occurring in citrus fruits. Murray Huff was a scientist at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and researched the effects of the flavanoid. Both groups of mice were fed on a diet high in fats and simple sugars, but whilst one group were given nobiletin the other group weren’t.
It was found that the group who were given nobiletin experienced no increase in their levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin or glucose, and gained weight normally. However, the other group of mice became obese and displayed all the symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome.
This news could change the way that obesity is treated.