The research provides "important and unprecedented insights" into how that morning cup of OJ could go a long way in supporting your health.
Cardiometabolic disease—an umbrella term for conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure—is one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. These ailments arise not just from problems with the heart and blood vessels, but also from issues with metabolism, the body’s system for using and storing energy from food. When metabolism doesn’t work properly, it can lead to high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and excess body fat—all of which increase the risk of serious heart and vascular problems.
That’s why, when tending to your heart health, it’s a good idea to include interventions that impact the bigger picture of your cardiometabolic health. An October 2025 study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research by an international group of food researchers suggests that one simple daily habit—drinking orange juice—could do just that, albeit in a somewhat surprising way.
In this small, exploratory trial, 20 healthy adults drank approximately 500 milliliters—about two cups—of 100% orange juice every day for 60 days. Scientists from North Carolina State University and University of São Paulo in Brazil then analyzed gene activity in the participants’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a type of immune cell often used to assess systemic biological responses. The team ultimately found that more than 1,700 genes experienced changes after the two-month span.
Several of the genes affected by orange juice were involved in important body processes like inflammation, how the body handles fat, and how blood pressure is controlled. For example, genes called IL6 and IL1β, which help start inflammation, “downregulated”—essentially meaning they had a reduced impact. Other genes that help the body process and use fat, such as GSK3B and RIPK1, also shifted in how active they were. The study’s authors say this suggests drinking orange juice may reduce the effect of inflammation and well as “modulate lipid metabolism through the regulation of key genes involved” in certain pathways within the body.
The researchers theorized that flavonoids found in orange juice—plant-based antioxidants that lower inflammation and oxidative stress—could be behind those positive changes. The American Heart Association (AHA) adds that flavonoids also benefit the heart by reducing the risk of blood clots and altering gut bacteria in such a way that lowers blood pressure.
Besides clocking these benefits, the study researchers made another observation: that responses differed by body weight. Participants who were deemed to have normal weight showed more changes in genes linked to inflammatory pathways, whereas overweight individuals exhibited shifts primarily related to lipid metabolism and energy use.
Of course, orange juice isn’t the only flavonoid-rich food that can help you reap cardiometabolic benefits—fresh produce represents an ideal source of these helpful antioxidants. While federal dietary guidelines recommend adults eat one-and-a-half to two cups of fruit each day and three to four cups of vegetables, only one in 10 U.S. adults eats that many vegetables, and only one in eight adults eats a sufficient amount of fruit, the AHA notes.
As scientists continue to explore the role of flavonoids in heart health and metabolism, larger trials with better controls are needed to determine whether these molecular alterations will translate into measurable improvements in health. However, the findings support the idea that a focus on nutrition, including tailored advice about flavonoid-rich foods, may one day enhance dietary guidance.
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