Effects of Whole “Navelina” Orange Consumption on Glucose Homeostasis and Fructosamine Levels in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A Randomized Controlled Trial
- 1Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy
- 2Data Science Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy
- 3Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS “Saverio de Bellis”, 70013 Castellana Grotte, Italy
Abstract
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is closely linked to insulin resistance and altered glucose and lipid metabolism. Fructosamine assays can provide complementary information regarding short-term glycemic exposure, making them particularly useful in the context of short-term nutritional interventions. This study evaluated the effects of whole “Navelina” orange consumption on glucose homeostasis in patients with MASLD. Methods: Sixty patients with MASLD were randomly assigned to an experimental or control arm. The experimental arm consumed 400 g/day of whole “Navelina” oranges for 4 weeks, while controls abstained from orange consumption. Fasting glucose, insulin, fructosamine, HOMA-IR, and QUICKI were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Generalized estimating equation models evaluated time-by-treatment interactions. Exploratory Spearman correlations assessed associations between changes in the lipid and glucose-related parameters. Results: Significant time–treatment interactions were observed for dietary sugars, vitamin A, and vitamin C. No significant interactions were observed for fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, or QUICKI. Fructosamine levels showed a non-significant trend toward a reduction (p = 0.078). In the experimental arm, changes in LDL levels were positively correlated with HOMA-IR and insulin levels, and inversely correlated with QUICKI. Conclusions: This study is one of the first clinical trials to evaluate the potential impact of whole orange consumption on glucose metabolism. However, these exploratory findings require confirmation through randomized studies conducted on larger samples and over longer periods.
Related
- Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): Evidence Synthesis, Methodological Appraisal, and Mechanistic Insights
- GLP-1 receptor agonists in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lysate for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Altered Hepatic Hydrogen Sulfide-Related Homeostasis in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Its Changes Following Sleeve Gastrectomy
- Dose-dependent efficacy and renal safety of pemafibrate versus fenofibrate in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and hypertriglyceridemia: a multicenter randomized controlled, open label trial
BibTeX
@article{nunzio2026effects,
title = {{Effects of Whole “Navelina” Orange Consumption on Glucose Homeostasis and Fructosamine Levels in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A Randomized Controlled Trial}},
author = {Valentina De Nunzio and Davide Guido and Giuliano Pinto and Emanuela Aloisio Caruso and Miriam Cofano and Ilenia Saponara and Matteo Centonze and Sabrina De Tullio and Annalisa Ferro and Maria Grazia Refolo and Maria Notarnicola},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/nu18213668},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3668},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of Whole “Navelina” Orange Consumption on Glucose Homeostasis and Fructosamine Levels in Patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A Randomized Controlled Trial
AU - Valentina De Nunzio
AU - Davide Guido
AU - Giuliano Pinto
AU - Emanuela Aloisio Caruso
AU - Miriam Cofano
AU - Ilenia Saponara
AU - Matteo Centonze
AU - Sabrina De Tullio
AU - Annalisa Ferro
AU - Maria Grazia Refolo
AU - Maria Notarnicola
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18213668
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3668
AB - Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is closely linked to insulin resistance and altered glucose and lipid metabolism. Fructosamine assays can provide complementary information regarding short-term glycemic exposure, making them particularly useful in the context of short-term nutritional interventions. This study evaluated the effects of whole “Navelina” orange consumption on glucose homeostasis in patients with MASLD. Methods: Sixty patients with MASLD were randomly assigned to an experimental or control arm. The experimental arm consumed 400 g/day of whole “Navelina” oranges for 4 weeks, while controls abstained from orange consumption. Fasting glucose, insulin, fructosamine, HOMA-IR, and QUICKI were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Generalized estimating equation models evaluated time-by-treatment interactions. Exploratory Spearman correlations assessed associations between changes in the lipid and glucose-related parameters. Results: Significant time–treatment interactions were observed for dietary sugars, vitamin A, and vitamin C. No significant interactions were observed for fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, or QUICKI. Fructosamine levels showed a non-significant trend toward a reduction (p = 0.078). In the experimental arm, changes in LDL levels were positively correlated with HOMA-IR and insulin levels, and inversely correlated with QUICKI. Conclusions: This study is one of the first clinical trials to evaluate the potential impact of whole orange consumption on glucose metabolism. However, these exploratory findings require confirmation through randomized studies conducted on larger samples and over longer periods.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -