Adults who eat apples, apple juice and apple sauce have a significantly reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The results of a US study presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 meeting this week were derived from an analysis of adult food consumption data collected in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Dr Victor Fulgoni analysed the data, looking at the association between the consumption of apples and apple products, nutrient intake and various physiological parameters related to metabolic syndrome.
When compared to non-consumers, adult apple product consumers had a 27 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.
Fulgoni said: “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 the metabolic syndrome.”
Metabolic syndrome, also known as Syndrome X and insulin resistance syndrome, is defined as having three or more of the associated symptoms, which include elevated blood pressure, increased waist size and abdominal fat, and elevated c-reactive protein levels.
It is believed to affect an estimated 36 million Americans.
Apple consumers are 30 per cent less likely to get elevated diastolic blood pressure and are 36 per cent less likely to suffer from elevated systolic blood pressure, as well as 21 per cent reduced risk of increased waist circumference - all predictors of cardiovascular disease and an increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome.
Those who ate apples were found to have healthier diet than those who did not, with a greater intake of fruit, as well as dietary fibre, vitamins A and C, calcium and potassium.
They also ate less total fat, saturated fat, discretionary fat and added sugars.
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