What the evidence says. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive.
Nutrition per serving 1 cup sections (190 g)
Water169.3 g90%
Sugars16.3 g9%
Fibre1.9 g1%
Other carbs0.1 g0%
Protein1.4 g1%
Fat0.1 g0%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
Pomelo (Citrus maxima) is a fruit used for very high vitamin c content (one cup exceeds the daily requirement) supporting antioxidant defense and normal immune function. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Preliminary. Pomelo is an exceptional dietary source of vitamin C, with one cup of sections supplying well over a day's requirement (about 129% DV), and it delivers citrus flavonoids (naringin, narirutin, naringenin) plus modest potassium and fiber. Large prospective cohorts and meta-analyses show higher citrus and total fruit intake is associated with modestly reduced cardiovascular disease and ischemic stroke risk (roughly 9-12% for citrus), but these data are for citrus broadly, not pomelo specifically. The lipid-lowering, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects attributed to naringin and total pomelo flavonoids come overwhelmingly from cell and rodent studies, not human trials. No randomized controlled trials establish clinical benefit of pomelo itself. The overall human evidence is therefore preliminary and largely extrapolated from generic citrus epidemiology and mechanistic work. Pomelo is a nutritious, hydrating, low-calorie whole fruit, best regarded as a healthful component of a fruit-rich diet rather than a proven therapeutic food. Its most clinically important property is a grapefruit-like potential to alter drug metabolism.
Purported Benefits
✓Very high vitamin C content (one cup exceeds the daily requirement) supporting antioxidant defense and normal immune function
✓Part of citrus intake linked in large prospective cohorts and meta-analyses to modestly lower cardiovascular and stroke risk (citrus broadly, not pomelo specifically)
✓Naringin and naringenin flavonoids with lipid-lowering and antioxidant activity (evidence mostly preclinical, no human trials in pomelo)
✓Hydrating, low-energy, low-fat whole fruit useful for weight-conscious diets
✓Potassium contributes modestly to blood-pressure-favorable dietary patterns
✓Polyphenols and fiber may support metabolic and gut health (early, mostly preclinical evidence)
Dosing & Compounds
Typical Dose
1 cup sections (~190 g); a whole medium fruit yields several cups of edible flesh
Active Compounds
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)Flavanone glycosides (naringin, narirutin)Flavanone aglycones (naringenin)Hesperidin / hesperetinFuranocoumarins (bergamottin, 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin)PotassiumDietary fiber (pectin)Carotenoids and limonoidsPhenolic acids (ferulic, caffeic)
Safety & Cautions
⚠
Like grapefruit, pomelo contains furanocoumarins that inhibit intestinal CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, raising blood levels of many medications; documented cases include marked elevation of tacrolimus and a measured increase in cyclosporine exposure in human pharmacokinetic study, and it can affect statins, calcium-channel blockers (e.g. felodipine), and other CYP3A4 substrates. Patients on these drugs should avoid pomelo and pomelo juice. It is acidic and may aggravate reflux in sensitive people; potassium content warrants moderation in advanced kidney disease. Otherwise generally safe as food. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Pomelo with any medicine.
Pomelo drug interactions
Known or theoretical interactions between Pomelo and common medications — educational, not exhaustive. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Pomelo with any medicine.
Pomelo is most often taken for Very high vitamin C content (one cup exceeds the daily requirement) supporting antioxidant defense and normal immune function, Part of citrus intake linked in large prospective cohorts and meta-analyses to modestly lower cardiovascular and stroke risk (citrus broadly, not pomelo specifically), Naringin and naringenin flavonoids with lipid-lowering and antioxidant activity (evidence mostly preclinical, no human trials in pomelo), Hydrating, low-energy, low-fat whole fruit useful for weight-conscious diets. Largest citrus, vitamin C and flavonoid rich
Does Pomelo work — what does the evidence say?
Preliminary evidence. Early or small human trials; promising but not yet conclusive. Pomelo is an exceptional dietary source of vitamin C, with one cup of sections supplying well over a day's requirement (about 129% DV), and it delivers citrus flavonoids (naringin, narirutin, naringenin) plus modest potassium and fiber. Large prospective cohorts and meta-analyses show higher citrus and total fruit intake is associated with modestly reduced cardiovascular disease and ischemic stroke risk (roughly 9-12% for citrus), but these data are for citrus broadly, not pomelo specifically. The lipid-lowering, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects attributed to naringin and total pomelo flavonoids come overwhelmingly from cell and rodent studies, not human trials. No randomized controlled trials establish clinical benefit of pomelo itself. The overall human evidence is therefore preliminary and largely extrapolated from generic citrus epidemiology and mechanistic work. Pomelo is a nutritious, hydrating, low-calorie whole fruit, best regarded as a healthful component of a fruit-rich diet rather than a proven therapeutic food. Its most clinically important property is a grapefruit-like potential to alter drug metabolism.
What is the typical dose of Pomelo?
1 cup sections (~190 g); a whole medium fruit yields several cups of edible flesh
Is Pomelo safe? Any cautions or side effects?
Like grapefruit, pomelo contains furanocoumarins that inhibit intestinal CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein, raising blood levels of many medications; documented cases include marked elevation of tacrolimus and a measured increase in cyclosporine exposure in human pharmacokinetic study, and it can affect statins, calcium-channel blockers (e.g. felodipine), and other CYP3A4 substrates. Patients on these drugs should avoid pomelo and pomelo juice. It is acidic and may aggravate reflux in sensitive people; potassium content warrants moderation in advanced kidney disease. Otherwise generally safe as food.
How many studies support Pomelo?
NutriDex cites 13 sources for Pomelo, graded "Preliminary".
Does Pomelo interact with any medications?
Yes — known or theoretical interactions include: CYP3A4 drugs (some statins, CCBs, immunosuppressants) (caution). This is educational and not exhaustive; always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Pomelo with any medicine.
Cite this page
APA
Peh, D. (2026). Pomelo (Citrus maxima): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 16 Sept 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/pomelo
BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_pomelo,
author = {Peh, Daryl},
title = {Pomelo (Citrus maxima): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
url = {https://nutridex.info/s/pomelo},
note = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-09-16}
}
For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.