Effects of Calamansi on Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels

The Effects of Calamansi (Citrus x Macrocarpa Bunge) Supplementation on Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels in Healthy Volunteers

Fifty-four healthy sedentary male and female participants aged 18-30 years will be recruited for this study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: a control group receiving placebo MMC capsules (n = 27) or a calamansi capsule supplementation group (n = 27). All participants will undergo health screening procedures, including medical history assessment, mental health questionnaire evaluation, and measurements of vital signs, height, body weight, and body composition. Venous blood samples will subsequently be collected to determine blood glucose, insulin, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. These assessments will be performed at three time points: 1) before capsule supplementation (baseline), 2) following a single dose of capsule supplementation, and 3) after 12 weeks of supplementation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy individuals who have not been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, with a fasting blood glucose level (after 8 hours of fasting) of less than 100 mg/dL.
• Aged between 18-30 years, both male and female
• Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 22.9 kg/m²
• No diseases affecting blood sugar levels, such as liver or pancreatic diseases

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Regular smokers
• Regular alcohol consumers
• Individuals with a history of allergies to citrus fruits or citrus-derived ingredients
• Individuals taking medications that affect glucose metabolism and fat distribution in the body, including steroids, protease inhibitors, and psychiatric medications. These refer to drugs that act on the central nervous system and may affect blood sugar levels or energy metabolism, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.