Weight Loss Associated With Consumption of Apples: A Review

Health effects of 100% fruit and vegetable juices: evidence from human subject intervention studies

The health effects of 100% fruit and vegetable juices (FVJ) represent a controversial topic. FVJ contain notable amounts of free sugars, but also vitamins, minerals, and secondary compounds with proven biological activities like (poly)phenols and carotenoids. The review aimed to shed light on the potential impact of 100% FVJ on human subject health, comprehensively assessing the role each type of juice may have in specific health outcomes for a particular target population, as reported in dietary interventions. The effects of a wide range of FVJ (orange, grapefruit, mandarin, lemon, apple, white, red, and Concord grapes, pomegranate, cranberry, chokeberry, blueberry, other minor berries, sweet and tart cherry, plum, tomato, carrot, beetroot, and watermelon, among others) were evaluated on a series of outcomes (anthropometric parameters, body composition, blood pressure and vascular function, lipid profile, glucose homeostasis, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, cognitive function, exercise performance, gut microbiota composition and bacterial infections), providing a thorough picture of the contribution of each FVJ to a health outcome. Some juices demonstrated their ability to exert potential preventive effects on some outcomes while others on other health outcomes, emphasising how the differential composition in bioactive compounds defines juice effects. Research gaps and future prospects were discussed. Although 100% FVJ appear to have beneficial effects on some cardiometabolic health outcomes, cognition and exercise performance, or neutral effects on anthropometric parameters and body composition, further efforts are needed to better understand the impact of 100% FVJ on human subject health.

Thinned young apple powder prevents obesity-induced neuronal apoptosis via improving mitochondrial function of cerebral cortex in mice

Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the triggers for obesity-induced neuron apoptosis. Thinned young apple is getting more attention on account of the extensive biological activities because of rich polyphenols and polysaccharides. However, the neuroprotective effect of thinned young apple powder (YAP) is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effect of YAP on obesity-induced neuronal apoptosis. C57BL/6J male mice were divided into 5 groups, control (CON), high fat diet (HFD), HFD + orlistat (ORL), HFD + low-dose young apple powder (LYAP) and HFD + high-dose young apple powder (HYAP) groups and intervened for 12 weeks. It was found that the YAP effectively reduced body weight gain. Importantly, the levels of pro-apoptosis protein were lower in LYAP and HYAP groups than the HFD group, such as Bak/Bcl2 and cleaved caspase3/caspase3. Pathway analysis based on untargeted metabolomics suggested that YAP alleviated obesity-induced neuronal apoptosis by three main metabolic pathway including arginine metabolism, citrate cycle (TCA cycle) and glutathione metabolism. Meanwhile, YAP improved the protein expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex, maintained the homeostasis of TCA cycle intermediates, protected the balance of mitochondrial dynamics and alleviated lipid accumulation. In addition, the levels of several antioxidants in cerebral cortex were higher in HYAP group than the HFD group like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). In summary, YAP supplementation suppressed neuronal apoptosis in the cerebral cortex of HFD-induced obesity mice by improving mitochondrial function and inhibiting oxidative stress.

Performance and meat quality of broiler chickens fed with the addition of dried fruit pomace

The aim of the study was to evaluate the addition to feed of 3% of dried pomace from apples (AP), cherries (CH), and strawberries (ST) on the production results and meat quality of broiler chickens. Birds fed only the standard mixture for broiler chickens were the control group (CO). On d 42, a lower body weight of broiler chickens from group ST was noted compared to birds from group CO at P = 0.032. When feed conversion per 1 kg of weight gain and loss of broiler chickens was assessed, no differences between groups were shown (P ˃ 0.05). The leg muscles of AP and CH broiler chickens had less drip loss compared to the control group at P = 0.036. For other quality parameters of breast and leg muscles, no differences between groups were noted (P ˃ 0.05). It was found that the addition of dried apple and cherry pomace to the feed in the amount of 3% did not adversely affect the production results and the quality of broiler chicken meat. On the other hand, the addition to feed of dried pomace from strawberries reduced the final body weight of experimental birds. The most interesting additive turned out to be dried cherry pomace, because it improved slaughter efficiency, contributed to reducing drip loss of leg muscles, and influenced the lower level of crude fat in the breast muscles. However, further research should be carried out on the optimal concentration of CH in the diet of fattening chickens in order to achieve the most beneficial results.

Empire Apple (Malus domestica) Juice, Pomace, and Pulp Modulate Intestinal Functionality, Morphology, and Bacterial Populations In Vivo (Gallus gallus)

Approximately $20 billion of apple sales are generated annually in the United States. With an estimated 5 million tons produced yearly in the U.S. within the last decade, apple consumption is considered ubiquitous. Apples are comprised of bioactive constituents such as phytochemicals and prebiotics that may potentiate intestinal health and the gut microbiome. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Empire apple juice, pomace, and pulp soluble extracts on intestinal functionality, morphology, and the microbiome in vivo (Gallus gallus). There were five treatment groups: non-injected (NI); 18 MΩ H2O (H2O); 6% apple juice (AJ); 6% apple pomace (APo); 6% apple pulp (APu). The eggs were treated by intra-amniotic administration of the samples on day 17 of incubation. After hatching, the blood, tissue, and cecum samples were collected for further analyses—including duodenal histomorphology, hepatic and duodenal mRNA expression, and cecal bacterial populations. Crypt depth was significantly (p < 0.5) shortest in AJ when compared to APo and APu. APo and APu soluble extracts significantly improved villi surface area compared to NI and H2O control groups. The highest count of Paneth cells per crypt was observed in APo as compared to all groups. In addition, the expression of brush border membrane micronutrient metabolism and functional proteins varied between treatments. Lastly, Lactobacillus cecal microbial populations increased significantly in the AJ group, while AJ, APu, and APu increased the abundance of Clostridium (p < 0.5). Ultimately, these results indicate the potential of Empire apple pomace to improve host intestinal health and the gut microbiome.

The Beneficial Effect of a Healthy Dietary Pattern on Androgen Deprivation Therapy-Related Metabolic Abnormalities in Patients with Prostate Cancer: A Meta-Analysis Based on Randomized Controlled Trials and Systematic Review

Metabolic abnormalities as side effects of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) can accelerate progression of prostate cancer (PCa) and increase risks of cardiovascular diseases. A healthy dietary pattern (DP) plays an important role in regulating glycolipid metabolism, while evidence about DP on ADT-related metabolic abnormalities is still controversial. To explore the effect of DP on metabolic outcomes in PCa patients with ADT, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and CINAHL were searched from inception to 10 September 2022. Risk of biases was evaluated through Cochrane Collaboration’s Tool. If heterogeneity was low, the fixed-effects model was carried out; otherwise, the random-effects model was used. Data were determined by calculating mean difference (MD) or standardized MD (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Nine studies involving 421 patients were included. The results showed that healthy DP significantly improved glycated hemoglobin (MD: −0.13; 95% CI: −0.24, −0.02; p = 0.020), body mass index (MD: −1.02; 95% CI: −1.29, −0.75; p < 0.001), body fat mass (MD: −1.78; 95% CI: −2.58, −0.97; p < 0.001), triglyceride (MD: −0.28; 95% CI: −0.51, −0.04; p = 0.020), systolic blood pressure (MD: −6.30; 95% CI: −11.15, −1.44; p = 0.010), and diastolic blood pressure (MD: −2.94; 95% CI: −5.63, −0.25; p = 0.030), although its beneficial effects on other glycolipid metabolic indicators were not found. Additionally, a healthy DP also lowered the level of PSA (MD: −1.79; 95% CI: −2.25, −1.33; p < 0.001). The meta-analysis demonstrated that a healthy DP could improve ADT-related metabolic abnormalities and be worthy of being recommended for PCa patients with ADT.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away": The potentials of apple bioactive constituents for chronic disease prevention

Apples are rich sources of selected micronutrients (e.g., iron, zinc, vitamins C and E) and polyphenols (e.g., procyanidins, phloridzin, 5′‐caffeoylquinic acid) that can help in mitigating micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) and chronic diseases. This review provides an up‐to‐date overview of the significant bioactive compounds in apples together with their reported pharmacological actions against chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. For consumers to fully gain these health benefits, it is important to ensure an all‐year‐round supply of highly nutritious and good‐quality apples. Therefore, after harvest, the physicochemical and nutritional quality attributes of apples are maintained by applying various postharvest treatments and hurdle techniques. The impact of these postharvest practices on the safety of apples during storage is also highlighted. This review emphasizes that advancements in postharvest management strategies that extend the storage life of apples should be optimized to better preserve the bioactive components crucial to daily dietary needs and this can help improve the overall health of consumers.

Metabolic and Cardiovascular Benefits of Apple and Apple-Derived Products: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

Quantitative evidence of the metabolic and cardiovascular effects of apples (Malus domestica) is lacking in interventional studies. This study aimed to summarize the available evidence of the beneficial effects of apples and apple-derived products (ADPs) on metabolic and cardiovascular markers.

Methods

Peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from four databases on May 3, 2021 and regularly updated until the end of May 2021. Demographic characteristics, intervention types, and evaluation parameters were extracted. A meta-analysis on the mean difference of change scores was conducted on commonly presented outcomes in the RCTs.

Results

The metabolic and cardiovascular effects of diverse regimens, including whole apple, apple extract, and apple juice, were examined in 18 eligible RCTs. Nine common evaluation outcomes were eventually introduced to the meta-analysis, including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, and systolic/diastolic blood pressures. The levels of TC (−2.69 mg/dL; 95% CI: −5.43, 0.04 mg/dL) and LDL (−2.80 mg/dL; 95% CI: −5.78, 0.17 mg/dL) showed a non-significant decreasing tendency after at least a week of apple consumption. Further subgroup analysis, particularly, a comparison with placebo as a control, showed a significant reduction in TC and LDL levels. When stratified by the baseline level, subjects with high TC and LDL level were shown to have more benefits from the apple intake. Intriguingly, apple and ADPs significantly reduced HDL levels to a small extent (−1.04 mg/dL; 95% CI: −1.79, −0.29 mg/dL). The other markers were mostly unaffected by the intervention.

Conclusion

Our investigation revealed that apples could improve blood cholesterol levels.

Systematic Review Registration

[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42020215977].

Effect of Anti-Obesity and Antioxidant Activity through the Additional Consumption of Peel from ‘Fuji’ Pre-Washed Apple

There is limited information on the health effects of apple peel taken from ‘Fuji’ (Malus pumila Mill) apples washed with ozonated water. To clarify the health-promoting effects of peel, the triterpenoids (ursolic acid and oleanolic acid) were quantified with gas chromatograph–mass spectrometry. Anti-obesity effects of apple peel extract on the 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte cell were compared with apple flesh, whole apple, and ursolic acid. The peel extract treatment with 3.30 ± 1.05 μM of ursolic acid significantly suppressed (p < 0.05) the lipid accumulation compared with the content in flesh, and a similar level was reached in the 5 μM ursolic acid positive control group. In the peel extract and ursolic acid treatment groups, the C16:0 concentration was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05), implying the anti-obesity effect of ursolic acid on the 3T3-L1 cell. Moreover, apple peel contributed 41% of the total flavonoids content and 31% of the phenolic contents of the whole apple, but only accounted for less than 10% of the whole apple (weight basis). This study’s results offer basic data on pre-washed apple as a health functional food, offering information about the health benefits of apple peel, calculated based on the partial ratio in the whole apple.

Flavonoid Phloretin Inhibits Adipogenesis and Increases OPG Expression in Adipocytes Derived from Human Bone-Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal-Cells

Phloretin (a flavonoid abundant in apple), has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and glucose-transporter inhibitory properties. Thus, it has interesting pharmacological and nutraceutical potential. Bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have high differentiation capacity, being essential for maintaining homeostasis and regenerative capacity in the organism. Yet, they preferentially differentiate into adipocytes instead of osteoblasts with aging. This has a negative impact on bone turnover, remodeling, and formation. We have evaluated the effects of phloretin on human adipogenesis, analyzing MSC induced to differentiate into adipocytes. Expression of adipogenic genes, as well as genes encoding OPG and RANKL (involved in osteoclastogenesis), protein synthesis, lipid-droplets formation, and apoptosis, were studied. Results showed that 10 and 20 µM phloretin inhibited adipogenesis. This effect was mediated by increasing beta-catenin, as well as increasing apoptosis in adipocytes, at late stages of differentiation. In addition, this chemical increased OPG gene expression and OPG/RANKL ratio in adipocytes. These results suggest that this flavonoid (including phloretin-rich foods) has interesting potential for clinical and regenerative-medicine applications. Thus, such chemicals could be used to counteract obesity and prevent bone-marrow adiposity. That is particularly useful to protect bone mass and treat diseases like osteoporosis, which is an epidemic worldwide.

Comparing the efficacy of apple peels and a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (ipragliflozin) on interstitial glucose levels: A pilot case study

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Eating unpeeled apples may be beneficial for plasma glucose management.

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Ipragliflozin is a superior option because the apple peel's function did not last as long as Ipragliflozin.

Background

Apple peels contain phlorizin, which can reduce plasma glucose levels in a manner similar to that of inhibitors for sodium-glucose cotransporters.

Objectives

In this study, we examined the influence of a peeled apple, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (ipragliflozin) in combination with a peeled apple, and an unpeeled apple on interstitial glucose in a healthy individual across 3 experiments.

Methods

For Experiments 1, 2, and 3, the healthy volunteer consumed 327 g peeled Sun Fuji apple, took 50 mg ipragliflozin, and then consumed 327 g peeled Sun Fuji apple, or consumed 370 g unpeeled Sun Fuji apple (peel weight was 43 g), respectively. In each condition, the apple was eaten within a 15-minute period and interstitial glucose levels were measured every 15 minutes for 11.5 hours using FreeStyle Libre (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois).

Results

Results showed that neither consumption of the unpeeled apple nor ipragliflozin were able to suppress the rapid or transient increases in postprandial glucose; however, the 2 were found to comparably suppress interstitial glucose during the late phase.

Conclusions

On the whole, these findings demonstrate that eating unpeeled apples may be beneficial for plasma glucose management, but ipragliflozin is a superior option because the apple peel's function did not last as long as ipragliflozin. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2020; 81:XXX–XXX)

Effects of Cabbage-Apple Juice Fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum EM on Lipid Profile Improvement and Obesity Amelioration in Rats

This study aimed to investigate the potential of cabbage-apple juice, fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum EM isolated from kimchi, to protect against obesity and dyslipidemia that are induced by a high-fat diet in a rat model. Male rats were fed a modified AIN-93M high-fat diet (HFD), the same diet supplemented with non-fermented cabbage-apple juice, or the same diet supplemented with fermented cabbage-apple juice for eight weeks. In the HFD-fermented cabbage- apple juice administered groups the following parameters decreased: body weight, liver and white fat pad weights, serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol, insulin, glucose and leptin levels, TG levels, while HDL-C and adiponectin levels in serum increased as compared with the HFD group. The HFD-fed rats that were supplemented with fermented cabbage-apple juice exhibited significantly lower fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and malic enzyme gene expression levels when compared to the exclusively HFD-fed rats. The anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects were marginally greater in the fermented juice administered group than in the non-fermented juice administered group. These results suggest that cabbage-apple juice-especially fermented cabbage-apple juice-might have beneficial effects on lipid metabolism dysfunction and obesity-related abnormalities. However, further studies are necessary for analyzing the biochemical regulatory mechanisms of fermented juice for obesity amelioration and lipid metabolic homeostasis.

A Micromethod for Polyphenol High-Throughput Screening Saves 90 Percent Reagents and Sample Volume

There is ample evidence that polyphenols are important natural substances with pronounced antioxidative properties. This study aimed to develop a fast and reliable method to determine total polyphenol content (TPC) in foodstuffs and human samples. The microtitration format offers the advantage of low sample volumes in the microlitre range, facilitating high-throughput screening with 40 samples simultaneously. We accordingly adjusted the so-called Folin–Ciocalteu method to a microtitre format (polyphenols microtitre—PPm) with 90% reduction of reagents. The assay was standardized with gallic acid in the range between 0.1 and 3 mM, using a 20 µL sample volume. The intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) was less than 5%, and inter-assay CV was in the range of 10%. Wavelength was measured at 766 nm after two hours of incubation. This micromethod correlates significantly with both the classical Folin–Ciocalteu method and High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) (r² = 0.9829). We further observed a significant correlation between PPm and total antioxidants (r² = 0.918). The highest polyphenol concentrations were obtained for red, blue, and black fruits, vegetables, and juices. Extracts of red grapes could be harvested almost sugar free and might serve as a basis for polyphenol supplementation. Beer, flour, and bread contained polyphenol concentrations sufficient to meet the minimal daily requirement. We conclude that PPm is a sensitive and reliable method that detects polyphenols even in samples diluted 10-fold. The literature strongly recommends further investigations on the effects of polyphenol uptake on human and animal health.