Also known as: Moro blood orange extract, Citrus sinensis Moro, Red orange complex
Branded IngredientsEmerging evidence
A standardised extract of Moro blood oranges, sold for body composition. Two small trials underpin the entire category, and both came from the same place.
Typical dose
400.0–400.0 mg per day
Once daily, generally in the morning
What it is
Morosil is a standardised extract of the Moro variety of blood orange, grown in Sicily. Blood oranges owe their colour to anthocyanins, the same pigments found in berries, which ordinary oranges lack.
The extract is standardised to anthocyanin content alongside other citrus polyphenols and vitamin C.
It sits in the fat loss category, which is worth approaching with the scepticism that category has earned. The specific claim concerns reducing fat accumulation rather than increasing energy expenditure, which at least differs from the usual thermogenic pitch.
How it works
The proposed mechanism involves influencing the genes governing fat cell development and lipid accumulation, reducing the formation and enlargement of fat cells rather than burning existing fat.
Anthocyanins have documented effects on metabolic signalling in laboratory models, which provides a plausible basis for this.
The gap, as with most preclinical mechanisms, is whether the concentrations achieved in a person taking 400 mg of extract resemble those used in cell culture. That question is not answered by the available research.
What the evidence shows
The evidence rests on a small number of trials, principally two conducted in Italy, reporting reductions in body weight, BMI and waist and hip measurements over 12 weeks in overweight participants.
Those trials are small, conducted by groups linked to the ingredient's development, and have not been independently replicated.
An entire commercial category has been built on that foundation. That does not make the findings wrong, but a fat loss ingredient supported by two small related trials should be treated as unproven rather than established, and the marketing generally does not present it that way.
Dosing
The dose used in the research is 400 mg daily, taken as a single serving, generally in the morning.
Trials ran for 12 weeks, so effects, if any, accrue over that timescale rather than quickly.
Set expectations from the evidence base rather than the marketing. Two small related trials is a thin foundation, and if fat loss is the goal, the diet producing the deficit is what determines the outcome. This is at best a marginal addition.
Anthocyanins clear within hours; trial effects assessed over 12 weeks
Timing
Once daily, generally in the morning
Competition status
Permitted — not on the WADA Prohibited List
Category
Branded Ingredients
Safety and side effects
Morosil has been well tolerated in the trials conducted, with few adverse effects reported. It is a food-derived extract from an ordinary fruit.
Citrus sensitivity is worth noting for anyone who reacts to oranges.
Long-term data beyond the trial durations is limited. Speak to your doctor before use if you take regular medication or are under medical care.
Who should avoid it
Avoid if sensitive to citrus. Speak to your doctor before use if you take regular medication or are under medical care. Long-term data is limited. Not established at supplemental doses in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
This entry is provided for information only. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or under medical supervision.
