Citrus limonin glucoside supplementation decreased biomarkers of liver disease and inflammation in overweight human adults

• Double-blind, cross over trial to study health effects of LG in overweight adults.
• Beverages containing LG had no specific adverse effects.
• LG lowered levels of liver enzymes associated with chronic inflammatory diseases.
• LG decreased MMP-9, an atherosclerotic plaque destabilization factor.
• LG may be useful in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Mixtures of limonoid glucosides demonstrated health benefits in human and animal studies; however, the specific metabolic effects of purified citrus limonin glucoside (LG) in humans are unknown. We determined effects of LG on circulating biomarkers of chronic inflammatory diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), diabetes, CVD, and cancer in a cross-over, placebo controlled, double-blind study in overweight/obese individuals. LG had no specific adverse effects. It did not alter circulating concentrations of blood lipids, lipoproteins or their particle sizes, glucose, insulin, hematological parameters, and markers of inflammation except MMP-9 and TNF-α which were decreased by 38.7% and 10.7%, respectively. LG significantly decreased concentrations of liver proteins: gamma-glutamyl transferase (33.8%), alanine aminotransferase (13.1%), alkaline phosphatase (10.1%), and complement C3 (6.4%). Since liver enzymes are elevated in metabolic syndrome, NAFLD, diabetes, CVD, and chronic kidney disease and liver cancer, LG may be useful in the prevention and/or treatment of those diseases.