Flavanones from Citrus sinensis L. (Fruit): A Natural Innovation for Sports Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Formulations

Citrus sinensis flavanones (hesperidin and narirutin) enhance athletic performance and cardio-metabolic health, as evidenced by clinical trials. Key benefits include improved oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial function. This review is a narrative compilation of randomized trials from reliable sources (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Publons, and Google Scholar) that investigate the impact of C. sinensis on athletic performance, oxidative stress management, inflammation, endothelial function, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Hesperidin, either alone or in combination with narirutin, was found to enhance exercise output, increase anaerobic power, and positively impact key biomarkers of muscle fatigue, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Mechanistic insights include enhanced endogenous antioxidant capacity (SOD ↑ and DPPH ↑), downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α ↓, IL-6 ↓, hs-CRP ↓), and elevated endothelial function (FMD ↑, sICAM-1 ↓, and sVCAM-1 ↓). Notably, clinical interventions also resulted in significant improvements in blood pressure regulation and lipid profiles, with reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, LDL-C, and triglycerides. These outcomes position C. sinensis as a promising natural agent to support athletic performance and cardiometabolic health, particularly in individuals engaged in prolonged/high-intensity exercise or those with metabolic disorders.