Written by Shereen, Product Management Associate · Updated 11 November 2026
Does blood orange extract help with weight management?
Moro blood orange extract may support weight management. In a 6-month placebo-controlled trial, adults with overweight who took 400 mg a day, alongside a calorie-controlled diet and regular walking, had greater reductions in body weight, waist and hip measurements and body fat than the placebo group. It works best as daily support for healthy habits.
This article is for you if: you've seen Moro orange or Morosil® on a label and want to know what it is, what the human studies actually found, and how it fits into a busy Singapore routine.
Blood oranges get their deep red colour from anthocyanins, the same family of plant pigments found in berries. Moro, a variety from Sicily, is the most pigmented blood orange, with the most anthocyanins,[4] and a standardised extract of its juice, sold as Morosil®, has been tested in placebo-controlled trials in adults with overweight. Here's what makes Moro oranges different, what each trial found, and how to use the extract alongside the habits that matter most.
→ See Sicilian Orange Slimming Elixir, our daily Moro blood orange drink for weight management
In this article
- What is Morosil (Moro blood orange extract)?
- What makes Moro blood oranges different from regular oranges?
- What did the human trials on Moro orange extract find?
- How might Moro orange extract work in the body?
- How does it fit with eating, movement and sleep?
- What should you look for in a Moro orange supplement?
- Frequently asked questions
What is Morosil (Moro blood orange extract)?
Morosil® is a patented, standardised extract made from the juice of Moro blood oranges, a red-fleshed variety of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) grown in Sicily. "Standardised" means each batch is made to contain a set level of active compounds, so every dose delivers the same amount.[2]
The Moro orange is particularly rich in active compounds:[1]
- Anthocyanins, the red pigments, mainly cyanidin 3-glucoside.[4]
- Hydroxycinnamic acids, a group of plant polyphenols.
- Flavone glycosides, another group of citrus flavonoids.
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
In the 12-week and 6-month human trials, the daily amount studied was 400 mg of the extract.[1] [4]
What makes Moro blood oranges different from regular oranges?
The difference is the anthocyanins. Blood oranges stand out for the marked levels of anthocyanins in their pulp, while regular "blond" oranges, such as navel oranges, have orange flesh without these red pigments.[2]
Researchers in Milan compared the two directly in mice on a high-fat diet. Mice that drank Moro juice instead of water gained less weight and stored less fat, while juice from Navelina, a blond orange, did not have this effect. The researchers concluded that several compounds in Moro juice likely work together, rather than anthocyanins alone.[3] This was an animal study, and human trials of Moro extract followed.
| Regular (blond) orange | Moro blood orange | Moro orange extract (Morosil®) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flesh colour | Orange | Deep red | Concentrated from Moro juice |
| Anthocyanins | Not a notable source | Marked levels in the pulp | Standardised to a set level in every dose |
| Other key compounds | Vitamin C and citrus flavonoids | Anthocyanins, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavone glycosides, vitamin C | The same compounds from Moro juice, in a measured amount |
| Weight management research | Did not reduce fat build-up in the mouse study | Reduced weight gain and fat build-up in mice | Placebo-controlled human trials at 400 mg a day |
Sources: laboratory, animal and human studies on Moro orange and its standardised extract.[1] [2] [3] [4]
What did the human trials on Moro orange extract find?
Two placebo-controlled trials of Moro orange extract at 400 mg a day found greater reductions in body weight, waist and hip measurements than placebo, and a pooled analysis of 3 trials found greater reductions in body weight and fat mass.
- 12-week trial (2015). Healthy adults with overweight took 400 mg of Moro juice extract (Morosil®) or a placebo each day. The extract group had a significant drop in body mass index (BMI) after just 4 weeks, and by the end, their body weight, BMI, waist and hip measurements were significantly different from the placebo group.[1]
- 6-month trial (2022). In a randomised, double-blind study, 180 adults with overweight aged 20 to 65 were assigned to 400 mg of standardised Moro extract or a placebo, taken after breakfast. Everyone followed a calorie-controlled diet and was asked to walk for 30 minutes 3 times a week.[4] After 6 months, the extract group lost 4.2% of their body weight compared with 2.2% for placebo, and 3.9 cm from the waist compared with 1.7 cm. Hip measurement, fat mass, and both visceral fat (the deeper fat around the organs) and fat under the skin also improved more than with placebo. More than a third of the extract group (36%) lost over 5% of their body weight, compared with 22.5% of the placebo group.[4]
- Pooled analysis (2025). A systematic review that combined 3 placebo-controlled trials with 252 adults found that Moro orange juice extract significantly reduced body weight and fat mass compared with placebo.[5]
| Study | Who took part | What they took | What it found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardile et al., 2015 | Healthy adults with overweight | 400 mg Morosil® or placebo daily, 12 weeks | Lower BMI from week 4; body weight, BMI, waist and hip measurements significantly different from placebo |
| Briskey et al., 2022 | 180 adults with overweight, aged 20 to 65 (136 analysed) | 400 mg Moro extract or placebo daily, 6 months, with a calorie-controlled diet and walking | 4.2% vs 2.2% body weight; 3.9 cm vs 1.7 cm off the waist; more fat mass, visceral fat and fat under the skin lost than placebo; 36% vs 22.5% lost over 5% of body weight |
| Campos et al., 2025 (pooled analysis) | 252 adults across 3 trials | Moro orange juice extract vs placebo | Greater reductions in body weight and fat mass than placebo |
Sources: the published trials and systematic review listed in the References.[1] [4] [5]
Safety was checked too: in the 6-month trial, all liver safety markers stayed within the normal range throughout the study in both groups.[4] The researchers concluded that Moro extract may be a safe and effective option for helping with weight loss when used together with diet and exercise.
How might Moro orange extract work in the body?
Laboratory and animal studies suggest Moro compounds act on how fat cells form and store fat, and that they work best together. These are early-stage findings that help explain the human results.
- Fat cell development. In a laboratory study, Morosil® showed antioxidant and anti-adipogenic activity: it slowed the processes that turn immature cells into fat-storing cells.[2]
- Fat storage genes. In mice on a high-fat diet, Moro juice reversed the changes in fat tissue gene activity caused by the diet.[3]
- Teamwork between compounds. The same mouse study found that an anthocyanin extract alone had only a slight effect, so the whole mix of Moro compounds seems to matter.[3] The authors of the 12-week human trial also suggested that the active compounds in Moro juice work together.[1]
How does it fit with eating, movement and sleep?
Moro orange extract was studied as an add-on to healthy habits, not instead of them. In the 6-month trial, both groups followed a calorie-controlled diet and walked regularly, and the extract group saw greater results on top of that.[4]
So the foundations still come first:
- Balanced meals with protein and fibre to keep you full, whether you're at the hawker centre or cooking at home.
- Regular movement, even brisk walks in the cooler morning or evening, like the walking routine in the trial.
- Enough sleep and a plan for stressful days, since both shape appetite.
We cover each of these, with the research behind them, in why weight loss plans fail and the 5 myths that hold you back. If late dinners after work are part of your week, see whether eating late really causes weight gain.
What should you look for in a Moro orange supplement?
Look for a standardised Moro extract at the amount used in the 12-week and 6-month trials, 400 mg a day, rather than a generic "orange" or "citrus" blend. A named extract such as Morosil® tells you it is the extract used in that research.[1] [4]
Here's how we built Sicilian Orange Slimming Elixir around that research:
- 400 mg of Morosil® blood orange extract per sachet, the same daily amount used in the 12-week and 6-month trials. The Moro oranges are grown in the volcanic soil around Mount Etna in Sicily, and Moro is the most pigmented of the blood orange varieties.[4]
- 10 billion postbiotic cells of Bifidobacterium lactis CECT 8145. In a 3-month trial in adults carrying extra weight around the middle, the heat-treated (postbiotic) form of this strain reduced waist circumference more than placebo, and visceral fat fell over the study.[6] Read more in what the postbiotic belly fat trial found.
- 500 mg of L-carnitine, plus Fibersol® dietary fibre.
- Made with real orange and apple juice and monk fruit extract, with 3 g of sugars per sachet. Take 1 sachet a day, about 30 minutes before a meal.
- Prefer less sugar? Sicilian Orange Slimming Elixir Zero has the same 400 mg of Morosil®, 10 billion postbiotic cells and 500 mg of L-carnitine, with 0 g of sugars per sachet.
If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication or have allergies, check with your doctor first.
Shop Sicilian Orange Slimming Elixir
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Related reading: Does L-carnitine help you lose weight? · Can postbiotics help reduce belly fat? · Why do weight loss plans fail? 5 myths that hold you back
Frequently asked questions
Is Morosil safe to take every day?
In the 6-month trial, adults took 400 mg of Moro extract every day, and all liver safety markers stayed within the normal range throughout. The 12-week trial also used a daily dose. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, on prescribed medication or have allergies, check with your doctor before you start.
How long does Moro orange extract take to work?
In the 12-week trial, the extract group had a significant drop in BMI from week 4. In the 6-month trial, alongside a calorie-controlled diet and regular walking, the difference in weight lost between the extract and placebo groups was significant at months 4 and 6. Taking it consistently every day, as in the trials, matters more than any single dose.
Can I just eat blood oranges or drink blood orange juice instead?
Blood oranges are a great choice of fruit and bring anthocyanins and vitamin C to your diet. The 12-week and 6-month trials, though, used a standardised extract at 400 mg a day, which delivers a set amount of Moro compounds in every dose. Fresh blood oranges are also seasonal, so an extract is an easier way to get a consistent amount every day of the year.
Was Moro orange extract studied in both men and women?
Yes. The 6-month trial included both men and women aged 20 to 65 with overweight. Across the whole group, those taking the extract saw greater reductions in body weight, waist measurement and fat mass than those taking the placebo.
Key takeaways
- Morosil® is a standardised extract of Moro blood oranges from Sicily, rich in anthocyanins, the red pigments that set blood oranges apart from regular oranges.
- In two placebo-controlled trials, 400 mg a day led to greater reductions in body weight and waist and hip measurements than placebo, and the 6-month trial also found more body fat lost. In the 6-month trial, 36% of the extract group lost over 5% of their body weight, compared with 22.5% on placebo.
- A pooled analysis of 3 trials with 252 adults found greater reductions in body weight and fat mass with the extract.
- The extract was studied alongside a calorie-controlled diet and walking, so it works best as support for those habits.
- Sicilian Orange Slimming Elixir and Sicilian Orange Slimming Elixir Zero each have 400 mg of Morosil® per sachet, the amount used in the 12-week and 6-month trials.
About the author: Shereen is a Product Management Associate at The Purest Co. A Master's graduate in Pharmacy from Monash University, she brings four years of research experience to product development, with a focus on evidence-based, thoughtfully formulated supplements that support everyday wellbeing.
References
[1] Cardile V, Graziano AC, Venditti A. Clinical evaluation of Moro (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) orange juice supplementation for the weight management. Nat Prod Res. 2015.
[2] Tomasello B et al. Anti-adipogenic and anti-oxidant effects of a standardised extract of Moro blood oranges (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Nat Prod Res. 2021.
[3] Titta L et al. Blood orange juice inhibits fat accumulation in mice. Int J Obes (Lond). 2010.
[4] Briskey D, Malfa GA, Rao A. Effectiveness of "Moro" blood orange Citrus sinensis Osbeck (Rutaceae) standardized extract on weight loss in overweight but otherwise healthy men and women: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Nutrients. 2022.
[5] Campos CM et al. Effect of Moro orange juice extract supplementation in weight management in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Health. 2026 (published online 2025).
[6] Pedret A et al. Effects of daily consumption of the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 on anthropometric adiposity biomarkers in abdominally obese subjects: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Obes (Lond). 2019.
These statements have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. Consult a healthcare provider before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on prescribed medication.
