Effects of a Long-term Grapefruit Juice Consumption on Vascular Protection and Bone Metabolism

Epidemiological studies definitively show that fruit and vegetable consumption is an important factor for the prevention of age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and osteoporosis. Citrus fruits are among the fruits which are the most frequently consumed worldwide, essentially as juices. Citrus fruits are the exclusive sources of a particular class of dietary flavonoids, namely flavanones. Grapefruit consumed as whole fruit or juice corresponds to a quantitatively significant source of a specific flavanone called naringin.

Inclusion Criteria: * Caucasian healthy post-menopausal women * 19≤ BMI ≤29 and waist measurement \> 88 cm Exclusion Criteria: * Metabolic diseases * Hypertension * Taking CYP3A4-metabolized drugs * Taking blood lipids lowering drugs or antihypertensive drugs * Hypercholesterolemia with HDL \< 1.30 mmol/L (i.e. \< 0.5 g/L) * Osteoporosis (defined by T-score of -2.5 SD at hip and/or lumbar spine) * Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) * Smokers * Taking dietary supplements