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Apples Cut Heart Disease, Metabolic Risk

Posted on: Wednesday, 9 April 2008, 15:00 CDT

Adult apple-product consumers had a 27 percent decreased likelihood of having metabolic syndrome when compared to non-consumers, a U.S. study found.

Dr. Victor Fulgoni analyzed adult food consumption data collected in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey -- the government's largest food consumption and health database.

Adults who eat apples and applesauce and drink apple juice have a significantly reduced risk of metabolic syndrome -- defined as having three or more of the associated symptoms related to cardiovascular risk, including elevated blood pressure, increased waist size and elevated C-reactive protein levels.

The study found those who consumed apple products had a 30 percent decreased likelihood for elevated diastolic blood pressure and a 36 percent decreased likelihood for elevated systolic blood pressure and a 21 percent reduced risk of increased waist circumference.

We found that adults who eat apples and apple products have smaller waistlines that indicate less abdominal fat, lower blood pressure and a reduced risk for developing what is known as metabolic syndrome, Fulgoni said in a statement.

Additionally, adult apple-product consumers had significantly reduced C-reactive protein levels -- a biomarker of inflammation used to detect increased risk for diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

The findings are being presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 meeting this week in San Diego.

Source: United Press International

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