Effect of Ursolic Acid on Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Sensitivity, and Inflammation
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of ursolic acid on metabolic syndrome, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out in 24 patients (30–60 years) with a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome without treatment. They were randomly assigned to two groups of 12 patients, each to receive orally 150 mg of ursolic acid or homologated placebo once a day for 12 weeks. Before and after the intervention, the components of metabolic syndrome, insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index), and inflammation profile (interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein) were evaluated. After ursolic acid administration, the remission of metabolic syndrome occurred in 50% of patients (P = .005) with significant differences in body weight (75.7 ± 11.5 vs. 71 ± 11 kg, P = .002), body mass index (BMI) (29.9 + 3.6 vs. 24.9 ± 1.2 kg/m2, P = .049), waist circumference (93 ± 8.9 vs. 83 + 8.6 cm, P = .008), fasting glucose (6.0 ± 0.5 vs. 4.7 ± 0.4 mmol/L, P = .002), and insulin sensitivity (3.1 ± 1.1 vs. 4.2 ± 1.2, P = .003). Ursolic acid administration leads to transient remission of metabolic syndrome, reducing body weight, BMI, waist circumference and fasting glucose, as well as increasing insulin sensitivity.
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To this date, the effect of consuming OPO in the diet has not been studied.
“However, research on the health effects of OPO in humans is limited to the assessment of some pure minor components administered as drugs or food supplements [10–12] or as functional VOO enriched in some triterpenes [13, 14], yet to this date the effect of consuming OPO in the diet has not been studied.”
From Olive pomace oil can improve blood lipid profile: a randomized, blind, crossover, controlled clinical trial in healthy and at-risk volunteers (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
Research on the health effects of OPO in humans is limited to assessment of some pure minor components administered as drugs or food supplements or as functional VOO enriched in some triterpenes.
“However, research on the health effects of OPO in humans is limited to the assessment of some pure minor components administered as drugs or food supplements [10–12] or as functional VOO enriched in some triterpenes [13, 14], yet to this date the effect of consuming OPO in the diet has not been studied.”
From Olive pomace oil can improve blood lipid profile: a randomized, blind, crossover, controlled clinical trial in healthy and at-risk volunteers (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
Most evidence on the potential health beneficial effects of olive minor components comes from in vitro studies or preclinical animal studies, while clinical studies in humans on the cardiometabolic effects of these compounds are scarce and limited to the use of pure components as drug therapy or dietary supplements.
“Most of the evidence on the potential health beneficial effects of olive minor components come from in vitro studies in different cell models or from preclinical animal studies [reviewed in 6]. However, clinical studies in humans on the cardiometabolic effects of these compounds are scarce, limited to the use of pure components such as squalene or triterpenic acids as drug therapy or dietary suppl”
From Olive pomace oil can improve blood lipid profile: a randomized, blind, crossover, controlled clinical trial in healthy and at-risk volunteers (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
In an intervention trial in patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, oral supplementation with 150 mg/d of UA for 12 weeks did not affect SBP or DBP.
“In an intervention trial in patients diagnosed of metabolic syndrome, oral supplementation with 150 mg/d of UA for 12 weeks did not affect SBP or DBP [12], in line with the results obtained in the present study.”
From Olive pomace oil can improve blood lipid profile: a randomized, blind, crossover, controlled clinical trial in healthy and at-risk volunteers (2022) · cites this paper as [12]
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“However, clinical studies in humans on the cardiometabolic effects of these compounds are scarce, limited to the use of pure components such as squalene or triterpenic acids as drug therapy or dietary supplements [11, 12, 22].”
BackgroundResultInfluential
- Authors
- Ramírez-Rodríguez, A. M., González-Ortiz, M., Martínez-Abundis, E., & Acuña Ortega, N.
- Affiliations
- Universidad de Guadalajara (MX)
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Therapeutics, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
- Venue
- Journal of Medicinal Food
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2017-09
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 882-886
- ISSN
- 1096-620X (ISSN-L)
- 1557-7600
- OpenAlex
- W2623725453
- Cited by
- 70
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 3.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Medicinal Food (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Natural product bioactivities and synthesis
- Keywords
- ursolic acid, metabolic syndrome, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, Matsuda index, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose
- MeSH terms
- Ursolic Acid, Adult, Blood Glucose, C-Reactive Protein, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Male, Middle Aged, Triterpenes, Interleukin-6, Metabolic Syndrome, Waist Circumference
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