3 apples a day lessen inflammation in obese adults

Daily consumption of whole Gala apples for 6 weeks reduces obesity-related inflammation that exacerbates the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), without weight loss, suggests a study.

Forty-six participants were randomized to consume three whole Gala apples (∼200 g edible parts) per day as part of habitual diet (n=23) or to avoid apples (control, n=23) for 6 weeks after shunning foods and beverages rich in polyphenols and fibre for 2 weeks. All participants limited their intake of polyphenols and fibre during the 6-week trial.

The investigators collected fasting blood samples before and after 6 weeks for analysis of plasma biomarkers and isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which were cultured for 24 h unstimulated or stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 10 ng/mL).

Of the participants, 44 completed the trial (mean age 45.4±2.2 years, 30 females, body mass index 33.4±0.9 kg/m²). After ANCOVA and correcting for multiple comparisons, apple consumption reduced fasting plasma C-reactive protein by 17.0 percent (range, 14.3–19.6; p=0.005), interleukin (IL)-6 by 12.4 percent (range, 6.7–17.5; p<0.001), and LPS-binding protein by 20.7 percent (range, 14.1–26.4; p<0.001) compared with control.

Apples also lowered PBMC-secreted IL-6 by 28.3 percent (range, 22.4–33.5; p<0.001) and IL-17 by 11.0 percent (range, 5.8–15.6; p=0.003) in the unstimulated condition compared with control.

In exploratory analysis, apple consumption led to an increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity by 9.6 percent (range, 1.7–18.9; p=0.002) compared with control, but apples showed no influence on anthropometric or other CVD risk markers.