An Apple a Day Keeps Your Lipids OK . . .

. . . according to Florida State University researchers.  They presented the results of a study in postmenopausal women at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) meeting in March.  Based on animal studies that showed that apple pectin and polyphenols improved lipid metabolism and lowered production of inflammatory markers, they examined the effects of an apple-a-day regime for one year on corresponding measurements in women.

The study included 160 women aged 45 to 65, who were randomly allocated to eat either 75 grams of dried apples or 75 grams of dried prunes, daily, for a year.  Fasting blood was taken at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months.          

By the 6-month interval, the women who ate apples had an average 14% decrease in total cholesterol and a 23% decrease in their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol – the ‘bad cholesterol’; in addition, there was a 4% increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol – the ‘good cholesterol’.  They also had lower levels of lipid hydroperoxide, which is linked to coronary artery disease, and C-reactive protein (CRP) – a marker for inflammation in the body.

The apples added 240 calories to the women's daily calorie intake, but they experienced an average weight loss of 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg).  This may have been due to the pectin content of apples, which is known to cause feeling of fullness.

If these results are only half-way reproducible, they still represent a remarkable benefit from eating apples.  And the study wasn’t sponsored by an Apple Marketing Board!