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Citrus as functional foods
Abstract
Recent studies have documented a number of health benefits associated with the consumption of citrus. These fruits are predominantly composed of water and have a very low energy density. However, they are some of the most important nutrient-dense foods available. In effect, citrus fruits contain a range of key nutrients such as vitamin C, folate, dietary fiber, minerals (potassium) and phytochemicals, which confer them the health-promoting properties. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the anti-oxidant capacity of foods. Vitamin C is a major contributor to the anti-oxidant capacity of citrus. However, the major contribution of citrus anti-oxidant activity comes from the combination of phytochemicals and from their synergistic action with vitamin C. The major phytochemicals in citrus fruits are the terpenes and phenolic compounds, which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activity. Carotenoids and limonoids are terpenes that are released in the processing of juices. Citrus is the main source of specific nutrients such as flavanones (hesperetin and naringenin, usually present as glycosides) and the carotenoid cryptoxanthin, which are not present in other fruits in significant quantities. Flavonoids also have a role in cardiovascular protection, inhibiting the formation of atheroma in many steps of its pathogenesis.
... Citruses, a wide genus of fruit species consumed by humans with economic and medicinal value, are rich in vitamins mainly of ascorbic acid, minerals, and phytochemicals of strong antioxidant activity including essential oils, phenols, and flavonoids [1]. The lar diagnostic assays [19]. ...
... The agarose gel electrophoretic analysis of RT-PCR products obtained using (A) the primers(22) targeting the ubiquitin gene (internal control)[33]; (B) the primers targeting the HSVd[32]; (C) The primers targeting CEVd[34]; (D) the agarose gel electrophoretic analysis of the 3rd round of RT-PCR in the ex vitro acclimatized greenhouse sample plant (code: Lime 16.3) after thermotherapy and tissue culture rescue for HSVd(1) and CEVd(2). ...
Viruses and viroids pose a significant challenge in citriculture, and their control is crucial for plant health. This study evaluated the effectiveness of in vitro thermotherapy combined with a meristem tip culture for eliminating citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) and hop stunt viroid (HSVd) from a new limonime hybrid (Citrus x limon var. limon x Citrus latifolia var. latifolia). The elimination success was confirmed by RT-PCR assays. The in vitro elimination rate for CEVd during the shoot proliferation stage (43%) was higher than for HSVd (21%). Accordingly, in the subsequent rooting stage, the in vitro elimination rate for CEVd (50%) was higher than for HSVd (33%). Successful CEVd and HSVd eradication at a 100% rate was confirmed in the ex vitro acclimatized plants in the greenhouse. The study also established an efficient micropropagation protocol. The optimal treatment for in vitro shoot induction was 0.5–2 mg L−1 benzyladenine (BA) + 0.5 mg L−1 gibberellic acid (GA3) + 0.25 mg L−1 naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), while for shoot elongation, it was 0.5 mg L−1 BA + 0.5 mg L−1 kinetin (KIN) + 0.5 mg L−1 GA3 + 0.25 mg L−1 NAA. Rooting was best promoted by 1 mg L−1 NAA. This study provides valuable insights for the mass production of viroid-free propagation material in this new lemon x lime hybrid, contributing to the conservation of genetic resources in citrus breeding programs through the combined application of in vitro thermotherapy and an in vitro meristem tip culture, a novel and highlighted achievement reported for the first time in this study.
... More than 300 limonoids have been isolated so far and categorized among which limonin is the first highly oxygenated triterpenoid dilactone. It is also collectively considered as the standard conveyor of CLs that have great potential for traditional medicinal uses and current nutraceutical products (Arias and Ramón-Laca 2005;Patil et al. 2009;Codoñer-Franch and Valls-Bellés 2010;Zhao et al. 2012). CLs also possess anti-carcinogenic activity. ...
Unlabelled:
Dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) is an arthropod-borne deadly RNA human pathogen transmitted through the mosquito Aedes. The DENV-2 roots viral infection by facilitating entry with its envelope glycoprotein to the receptor protein Dendritic-cell-specific ICAM3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) through membrane fusion. Here, an organizational path is reported for inhibiting the transition due to fusion activation and by blocking the residues of the DC-SIGN-E-Glyco protein complex through citrus limonoids with its antiviral effect. Based on lower binding affinity obtained with E-glycoprotein, and based on ADMET and drug-likeness study, limonin was selected as having effective interaction with DC-SIGN-E-glycoprotein complex in comparison to other citrus limonoids. The FTIR spectra performed with the limonin-E-glycoprotein sample provide evidence of hydrogen bond formation that indicates the formation of a strong limonin-E-glycoprotein conjugate. Further, the strong physical interaction between DC-SIGN and small limonin molecules in comparison to that of E-glyco with DC-SIGN assures the development of immunity against DENV-2.
Supplementary information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00207-2.
... flavonoids. For example, flavones, such as luteolin and apigenin, are enriched in sweet pepper and celery respectively 11,12 ; flavanones are mainly found in citrus fruits, including hesperidin and naringin 13 ; isoflavones are mainly found in soybeans and legumes 14 ; flavonols, including quercetin and rutin, are widely found in vegetables and fruits, with the highest content of red onion 15 ; flavanols are mainly catechins, of which green tea is the most abundant 16 ; anthocyanins determine the color of plants and are usually found in large quantities in colored stems, leaves, flowers and fruits 17 . The high flavonoid content in Rosaceae fleshy fruits, especially as a natural source of anthocyanins 18 , contributes to their popularity. ...
Red flesh apple (Malus pumila var. medzwetzkyana Dieck), purple leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera Ehrhar f), and purple leaf peach (Prunus persica ‘Atropurpurea’) are significant ornamental plants within the Rosaceae family. The coloration of their fruits and leaves is crucial in their appearance and nutritional quality. However, qualitative and quantitative studies on flavonoids in the succulent fruits and leaves of multicolored Rosaceae plants are lacking. To unveil the diversity and variety-specificity of flavonoids in these three varieties, we conducted a comparative analysis of flavonoid metabolic components using ultra-high-performance liquid phase mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The results revealed the detection of 311 metabolites, including 47 flavonoids, 105 flavonols, 16 chalcones, 37 dihydroflavonoids, 8 dihydroflavonols, 30 anthocyanins, 14 flavonoid carbon glycosides, 23 flavanols, 8 isoflavones, 11 tannins, and 12 proanthocyanidins. Notably, although the purple plum and peach leaves exhibited distinct anthocyanin compounds, paeoniflorin and corythrin glycosides were common but displayed varying glycosylation levels. While the green purple leaf peach fruit (PEF) and red flesh apple leaf (AL) possessed the lowest anthocyanin content, they exhibited the highest total flavonoid content. Conversely, the red flesh apple fruit (AF) displayed the highest anthocyanin content and a diverse range of anthocyanin glycosylation modifications, indicating that anthocyanins predominantly influenced the fruit's color. Purple PLF, PLL, and PEL showcased varying concentrations of anthocyanins, suggesting that their colors result from the co-color interaction between specific types of anthocyanins and secondary metabolites, such as flavonols, flavonoids, and dihydroflavonoids. This study provides novel insights into the variations in tissue metabolites among Rosaceae plants with distinct fruit and leaf colors.
... In addition to this, lemon like citrus fruits contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals and limonoids, which appear to have biological activities and health benefits. There is considerable evidence that citrus fruit have antioxidant and antimutagenic properties and positive associations with bone, cardiovascular, and immune system health [10]. ...
... Citrus fruits are rich in essential nutrients, fiber, folate, and compounds that possess anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties (Codoner-Franch and Valls-Belles, 2010). China, a top citrus-producing country, produced 46.7 million tons of citrus in 2021 (Knoema, 2022). ...
Bactrocera minax (Enderlein), commonly known as the Chinese citrus fly, is a citrus pest native to China and nearby countries. B. minax can cause substantial losses in citrus orchards. B. minax can be spread to countries free from it by the global trade of citrus and by travelers carrying citrus. Timely, convenient, and accurate identification of B. minax is essential in preventing its spread. In the present study, the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) amplicon was used to design species-specific primer pairs that enable B. minax to be distinguished from 11 other fruit fly species. Four forward and four reverse species-specific primers were designed, and out of all possible sets of species-specific primer pairs obtained after intermixing them, seven sets of species-specific primer pairs were able to accurately identify B. minax. For B. minax identification, specific fragments ranging from 83 to 431 base pairs in length were amplified. The validity of the specific band only in B. minax was determined by visually inspecting the gel profile of the PCR product. B. minax was correctly identified using the designed species-specific primer pairs, with no cross-amplification with the 11 other fruit fly species included in the experiments. In addition to saving DNA sequencing costs, the application of these species-specific primer pairs facilitates rapid identification of B. minax, with identification in border scenarios being completable within 2–3 h.
... In addition, it also contains 1 mg sodium, 18 mg calcium, 8 mg magnesium, 14 mg phosphorus and 178 mg potassium out of 100 g. [10,11] Kinnow juice also contains abundant quantities of primary metabolites (amino acids, vitamins (provitamin-A, folate, and ascorbic acid)), and secondary metabolites such as flavones, flavonoids, limonoids, phenolics, and carotenoids. [12,13] Consumers demand natural, healthy, and safe products. The nutritional and qualitative qualities were altered through a controlled process. ...
Non-thermal processing has been developed to increase the quality and storage life of fruit juices in response to consumer desire. Ozonation is a recently developed method that generates volatile oxygen atoms that can eliminate a broad spectrum of microbes and extend the shelf stability of food products. The present research was intended to investigate the ozone processing on the physicochemical characteristics, microbiological quality, sensory attributes, and antioxidant potential of Kinnow juice. In this study, Kinnow juice was processed to 150 mg/h of ozone gas at a constant concentration for 5, 10, and 15 min. The sample was then taken in a plastic container and stored at 35°C ± 2 for three months. The results revealed that ozone processing had a significant (p˂0.05) effect on the total phenolics (TP) contents, total flavonoids (TF) contents, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, total antioxidant activity (TAA) and DDPH radical scavenging activity of Kinnow juice. In addition, the ozonation application also significantly (p˂0.05) decreased the population of the microbes when the ozone time was increased from 5–15 min. Among the treatments, it was observed that T3 had the highest TSS, acidity, TF contents, TAA, and DDPH radical scavenging activity values and the lowest mold and plate counts. Regarding sensory qualities, T0+ showed the highest sensory score during storage. Thus, it may be concluded from the findings of our study that ozone application improved the quality of Kinnow juice by increasing TSS, phytochemicals and decreasing the microbial population, thereby prolonging their shelf life.
Mosambi belonging to the family Rutaceae is a sweet lime variation best cultivated in India, China, southern Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. In India, Mosambi is extremely popular and often produces fruit in 5–7 years. It contains significant amounts of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and other biocompounds with antioxidant characteristics, including vitamin C, minerals, and water-soluble vitamins. This fruit is progressively gaining popularity around the world due to sweet taste of its juice. Many researchers have looked at the extraction, depectinization, pretreatment and final clarity of preprocessed juice. Mosambi has a numerous health benefits, including aiding digestion and contributing in the treatment of scurvy, diabetes, urinary disorders, and skin problems. Apart from this, it also possesses antioxidant, anti-diarrheal, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, antithrombotic, antimicrobial, antihypertensive and diuretic. Mosambi is a high-fiber, low-glycemic-index fruit. The by-products derived from mosambi wastes provide a source of nutraceuticals, which the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries can use to make low-cost nutritional dietary supplements. This chapter summarized the detailed description of antioxidant components, their characterization, health benefits and nutritional significance of Mosambi with respect to post harvest technologies, its processing, valuable food products and comprehensive utilization of waste in the value added byproducts.
Pruning and fertilization are factors that can determine the production and quality of citrus. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of pruning intensity and fertilizer doses of N (nitrogen), P (phosporus), and K (potassium) on citrus production and quality. The study was carried out in a citrus orchard in Central Java, Indonesia, over the course of two seasons, 2016-17 and 2017-18. The experiment was conducted as a two-factorial, completely randomized block design where the first factor was pruning intensity, namely 0, 5, 10, and 15 % of the total number of branches per tree while the second factor was doses of N, P, and K fertilizers, namely 0, 2, and 4 % of the weight of harvested citrus fruit in the previous season. The result showed that increasing doses of N, P, K fertilizers from 0 to 4 % increased fruit-set, harvested fruits, fruit size, content of vitamin C, sugar, and soluble solid. The highest fruit-set, weight of harvested fruits, and content of vitamin C were achieved by pruning intensity of 10 %.
There is vast epidemiological evidence for the beneficial effects that the consumption of citrus juices exerts on human health. These effects are attributed to their content in substances exhibiting free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities, mainly ascorbic acid, flavonoids, carotenoids and polyphenolic derivatives. This work describes an approximation to the reduction kinetics of the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) by the free radical scavenging activity of juices from sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.), clementine (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and satsuma (Citrus unshiu K. Marc), as well as the deduction of a kinetic equation to fit the experimental data. This equation contains two contributions. The first contribution accounts for the concentration of DPPH• reduced by the cumulative antiradical activity of those citrus juice components that are capable of fast hydrogen atom transfer (fast-kinetics), mainly ascorbic acid and some polyphenolic derivatives; the second accounts for the concentration of DPPH• reduced by the cumulative antiradical activity of those citrus juice components that are capable of slow hydrogen atom transfer (slow-kinetics), mainly flavanone-7-O-glycosides and some polyphenolic derivatives. This methodology thus permits the determination of the total antiradical activity of a citrus juice (expressed as molar equivalents of ascorbic acid), as well as the partial contributions of the cumulative antiradical activities (also expressed as molar equivalents of ascorbic acid) due to both fast-kinetics and slow-kinetics.
Nitrites are ubiquitous environmental contaminants present in drinking water and foods. Nitrosamines can be formed endogenously from nitrate and nitrite and secondary amines or may be present in food, tobacco smoke, and drinking water. The major goal of this work was to evaluate the cytotoxic, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-producing and genotoxic effects of nitrite and nitrosamines and the possible protection by ascorbic acid in HepG2 cells. It was found that nitrite, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), and N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) decreased cell viability, increased intracellular ROS production, and caused genotoxicity. Compared to untreated cells as determined by alkaline Comet assay, nitrite, NDMA, NDEA, and NMOR raised the tail intensity up to 1.18-, 3.79-, 4.24-, and 4.16-fold, respectively. Ascorbic acid (AA, 10 microM) increased cell viability and reduced ROS production significantly (p < 0.05). Additionally, AA treatment decreased the tail intensity caused by nitrite, NDMA, NDEA, and NMOR to 33.74%, 58.6%, 44.32%, and 43.97%, respectively. It can be concluded that ascorbic acid was able to reduce both tail intensity and tail moment in all of the nitrosamine treatments, particularly in NDMA. AA protected HepG2 cells against genotoxic effects caused by nitrosamines. This protection might be through different mechanisms, some of which are not still understood in depth. The future interest will be to understand which pathways are influenced by antioxidants, particularly by AA, and the outcomes of this prevention in other cell line types.
Hesperidin, a flavonoid obtained from citrus fruits, is known to have multiple biological activities and antimicrobial activities for human viruses; however, hesperidin has very low solubility in water and the target molecule of hesperidin for influenza virus remains unknown. A water-soluble derivative of hesperidin, glucosyl hesperidin (GH), which was synthesized by regioselective transglycosylation with cyclodextrin glucanotransferase, has been reported to have biological activities that are as or stronger than those of hesperidin. To determine the inhibitory effect of GH on influenza A virus (IAV) infection, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were treated with GH before, at the same time as, and after IAV inoculation. GH treatment before IAV inoculation had no effect on virus replication, whereas, treatment with GH at the same time as or after IAV inoculation induced distinct reduction in IAV replication. Inhibition analysis of GH against two surface glycoprotein spikes of IAV revealed that GH prevents IAV replication by inhibition of viral sialidase activity that is involved in the entry and release stages on IAV infection but not by receptor binding inhibition. GH had no cytotoxic effects on MDCK cells in a dose range of 0-25 mM. Our results provide useful information for the development of novel sialidase inhibitors for influenza prevention.
Animal studies suggest that administration of vitamin A to rats with experimental urinary tract infection decreases the frequency of renal scars (Kavukçu et al., BJU Int 83(9):1055-1059, 1999). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin A on the rate of permanent renal damage in children with acute pyelonephritis. Fifty children, median age of 24 months (range 2-144), with first-time pyelonephritis verified by an uptake defect on acute dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan were included in the study and randomly allocated to the case or control groups. All were given intravenous ceftriaxone for 10 days followed by oral cephalexin for 3 months. Cases in addition were given a single intramuscular dose of vitamin A, 25,000 U for infants below 1 year of age and 50,000 U for older children. At the repeat DMSA scan after 3 months, five of 25 cases (20%) and 17 of 25 controls (68%) had abnormal findings (p = 0.001). In conclusion, administration of vitamin A was associated with a significantly lower rate of permanent renal damage.
Background and aims:
The increase in oxidative stress is the main factor in acceleration of atherosclerosis, leading to death in hemodialysis patients. Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants that inhibits lipid peroxidation and improves endothelial function. This study aims to assess the effects of vitamin C supplementation on lipid profiles as well as markers of lipid peroxidation among hemodialysis patients.
Materials and methods:
In this double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial, a total of 42 patients were randomly assigned to vitamin C (n=21) or placebo groups (n=21). Patients in the vitamin C group consumed 250 mg vitamin C and those in the placebo group were given placebo every other day for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and at the end of the study to measure serum concentrations of lipid profiles, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and vitamin C.
Results:
After supplementation with vitamin C, serum vitamin C levels increased significantly in the vitamin C group as compared to baseline (p=0.033). There was also a significant difference in serum vitamin C levels between vitamin C and placebo groups (p=0.001). Serum MDA concentrations were marginally decreased in the vitamin C group after taking supplements (p=0.057). A significant difference was also seen in mean MDA changes between vitamin C and placebo groups (p=0.002). There was a significant difference in serum levels of total cholesterol (p=0.005), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) (p=0.012), and LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) ratio (p=0.018) between the two groups; however, serum triglyceride and HDL-C levels were not significantly different between groups.
Conclusion:
Every other day supplementation with 250 mg vitamin C for 12 weeks increases serum vitamin C, decreases MDA levels, and improves lipid profiles in hemodialysis patients.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major human pathogen and plays a central role in chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. Since the adhesion of H. pylori to the human gastric epithelium is the initial and critical step of its infection, anti-H. pylori adhesion agents may be effective for the prevention and therapy of H. pylori-associated diseases. CD74 has recently been identified as a new receptor for H. pylori urease, and we have previously reported that several citrus components strongly suppressed CD74 expression in NCI-N87 gastric carcinoma cells. We found in this present study that auraptene (citrus coumarin) disrupted serum starvation-induced extracellular signaling-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 activation and attenuated H. pylori adhesion and IL-8 production in a co-culture system. In addition, the knockdown of CD74 expression led to a significant decrease of H. pylori adhesion, but unexpectedly increased IL-8 production. However, PD98059 (a MEK1/2 inhibitor) dramatically down-regulated this cytokine, suggesting MEK/ERK-dependent IL-8 production. Our results suggest that auraptene suppressed H. pylori adhesion and resulting chemokine production by disrupting ERK1/2 activation.
The effect of citrus pectin (CP) on the proliferative capacity of four malignant cell lines was examined. Various dose of CP inhibited the proliferation of two-colon carcinoma and an erythroleukemia cell lines. Raji cells were not affected at all. The three lines affected by CP are known to express galectins which are pivotal for cell growth and metastasis, while Raji cells, whose proliferation was not affected by CP, are deficient of this betagalactoside. It is possible that the antiproliferative effect of CP on the malignant cells may be due at least in part to its ability to inhibit galectin expression.
Dietary fibers, including pectin, have been shown to exert a favorable effect on a wide spectrum of pathological conditions. Their positive influence on human health is explained by their anti-oxidative, hypocholesterolemic and anti-cancerous effects. However, little has been reported about their activity on the immune system. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the effect of citrus pectin (CP) on cytokine production by human peripheral blood cells (PBMC). PBMC were incubated without or with CP at different degrees of esterification (DE) (approximately 30, approximately 60 and approximately 90% esterified pectin, assigned as DE30, DE60 and DE90, respectively) for detection of IL-1 beta, IL-1 ra, TNFalpha, IL-6 and IL-10 secretion. Incubation with DE60 and DE90 induced a dose-dependent inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1 beta secretion, whereas D30 did not affect this function. However, CP at all three esterification degrees did not alter the secretion of the additional pro-inflammatory cytokines examined, i.e. TNFalpha and IL-6. Conversely, CP at DE60 and DE90 caused a dose-dependent increased secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 ra and IL-10, whereas D30 did not affect the production of IL-1 ra and decreased that of IL-10. The findings indicate that CP possesses the capacity to exert an immunomodulatory response in human PBMC which may have a favorable effect on human health.
Oxidative stress has been linked to such degenerative diseases as atherosclerosis, and it has been suggested that increased dietary intake of antioxidants may reduce its progression.
To determine the effect of mandarin juice consumption on biomarkers related to oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic children.
The diet of 48 children with plasma cholesterol >200 mg/dL and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol >130 mg/dL was supplemented for 28 days with 500 mL/day of pure (100%) mandarin juice (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan.). The composition of the mandarin juice was analyzed, and its antioxidant antiradical activity was evaluated in vitro. Malondialdehyde, carbonyl groups, vitamins E and C, erythrocyte-reduced glutathione, and plasma lipids were measured at the onset and at the end of the supplementation period. The paired Student t test was used to compare values before and after supplementation.
Mandarin juice exerted a strong antioxidant effect mainly due to its high hydroxyl activity and, to a lesser extent, to its superoxide scavenger activity. At the end of the study, levels of the plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress were significantly decreased (malondialdehyde -7.4%, carbonyl groups -29.1%, P < 0.01), whereas the plasma antioxidants vitamin E and C (13.5%, P < 0.001 and 68.2%, P < 0.00001, respectively) and intraerythrocyte glutathione level (36.7%, P < 0.00001) were significantly increased. Plasma lipids and antibodies to oxidized low-density lipoproteins remained unchanged.
Regular ingestion of mandarin juice significantly reduces plasma biomarkers of lipid and protein oxidation and enhances the antioxidant status of consumers.
Beta-cryptoxanthin (beta-CRX) is a carotenoid pigment found especially in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) fruit, which is mainly produced in Japan. Previously, we found that serum beta-CRX concentrations rose to extreme levels as the frequency of consumption of Satsuma mandarin increases. Using 94 non-smoking female volunteers, the present study evaluated the relationship between serum concentration of beta-CRX and serum lipid levels in September, when the Satsuma mandarin is not in season, and in January of the next year, when it is in season. The mean of increment in serum beta-CRX concentrations from September to January was 95.9 +/- 84.0 microg/dl (mean +/- SD). Although the changes in serum lipid levels did not correlate with the changes in serum beta-CRX, the serum HDL-cholesterol and apo-lipoprotein A1 levels in the highest quartile of the increment in serum beta-CRX from September to January were significantly higher than those in the lowest quartile in both September and January. In cross-sectional analyses, serum beta-CRX concentrations were correlated positively with those of LDL-cholesterol and apo-lipoprotein B levels in September, but these correlations were not observed in January. In contrast, serum beta-CRX concentrations were correlated positively with those of HDL-cholesterol and apo-lipoprotein A1 levels in January. These results suggest that habitual eating of Satsuma mandarin while it is in season may influence lipid metabolism throughout the year.