In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of Citrus tumida hort. ex Tanaka on food intake, body and fat tissue weights, and metabolic profiles of plasma and liver in mice. Supplementation with 5% (w/w) of peels of immature C. tumida (PIC) for 4 weeks significantly suppressed body weight gain and decreased adipose tissue weight in epididymal, perirenal, and subcutaneous fats. Metabolome analyses showed that 2-hydroxyvaleric acid levels were reduced in the blood plasma of mice fed with PIC. PIC supplementation significantly elevated dipeptide (Thr-Asp, Ser-Glu, and Ala-Ala), glucuronic acid, and S-methylglutathione levels, and significantly reduced betaine aldehyde levels in the liver. In conclusion, PIC supplementation affects the metabolism of fatty acids, pectin, glutathione, and choline, showing potential beneficial effects for metabolic syndrome and obesity. PIC may be developed as a functional food and used in the treatment of these diseases.
Keywords: Citrus tumida; functional food; metabolomics; peel.