Grapefruit can be a nutritious addition to one’s diet, providing a source of vitamin C, potassium, carotenoids, fiber, and various other health-promoting vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.
Only a few clinical trials have examined grapefruit's health effects in humans. Some preliminary studies have pointed to potential benefits on cardiovascular health and metabolic health, including reduced blood pressure, weight loss, and improved lipid profiles and endothelial function.[1][2][3][4] However, these effects aren’t found consistently, and more research is needed.
In observational studies, higher intakes of flavonoid-rich foods tend to be associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease (e.g., stroke).[5][6] However, the relationship is less robust when looking specifically at grapefruit or its main types of flavonoids (flavanones). Some studies have even reported an increased risk of all-cause mortality with higher levels of consumption.[7][8] It’s unclear why this is, but the researchers suggested it could relate to the risk of drug interactions with grapefruit or to the disproportionate consumption of fruit juice rather than whole fruit.
References
- ^Onakpoya I, O'Sullivan J, Heneghan C, Thompson MThe effect of grapefruits (Citrus paradisi) on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr.(2017 Feb 11)
- ^Gorinstein S, Caspi A, Libman I, Lerner HT, Huang D, Leontowicz H, Leontowicz M, Tashma Z, Katrich E, Feng S, Trakhtenberg SRed grapefruit positively influences serum triglyceride level in patients suffering from coronary atherosclerosis: studies in vitro and in humans.J Agric Food Chem.(2006 Mar 8)
- ^Habauzit V, Verny MA, Milenkovic D, Barber-Chamoux N, Mazur A, Dubray C, Morand CFlavanones protect from arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women consuming grapefruit juice for 6 mo: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial.Am J Clin Nutr.(2015 Jul)
- ^Fujioka K, Greenway F, Sheard J, Ying YThe effects of grapefruit on weight and insulin resistance: relationship to the metabolic syndromeJ Med Food.(2006 Spring)
- ^Kim Y, Je YFlavonoid intake and mortality from cardiovascular disease and all causes: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.Clin Nutr ESPEN.(2017 Aug)
- ^Cassidy A, Rimm EB, O'Reilly EJ, Logroscino G, Kay C, Chiuve SE, Rexrode KMDietary flavonoids and risk of stroke in women.Stroke.(2012 Apr)
- ^Zhou F, Gu K, Zhou YFlavonoid intake is associated with lower all-cause and disease-specific mortality: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010 and 2017-2018.Front Nutr.(2023)
- ^Ivey KL, Jensen MK, Hodgson JM, Eliassen AH, Cassidy A, Rimm EBAssociation of flavonoid-rich foods and flavonoids with risk of all-cause mortality.Br J Nutr.(2017 May)