SAN DIEGO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/08/08 -- Not eating your apple a day? Perhaps youshould be. Adults who eat apples, apple juice and applesauce have asignificantly reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of healthproblems that are linked to numerous chronic diseases such as diabetes andcardiovascular disease.The study results, presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 meeting thisweek, were derived from an analysis of adult food consumption datacollected in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES), the government's largest food consumption and health database.
Dr. Victor Fulgoni analyzed the data, specifically looking at theassociation between consumption of apples and apple products, nutrientintake and various physiological parameters related to metabolic syndrome.When compared to non-consumers, adult apple product consumers had a 27%decreased likelihood of being diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.
Fulgoni notes, "We found that adults who eat apples and apple products havesmaller waistlines that indicate less abdominal fat, lower blood pressureand a reduced risk for developing what is known as the metabolic syndrome."
In addition to having a 30% decreased likelihood for elevated diastolicblood pressure and a 36% decreased likelihood for elevated systolic bloodpressure, apple product consumers also had a 21% reduced risk of increasedwaist circumference -- all predictors of cardiovascular disease and anincreased likelihood of metabolic syndrome. Additionally, adult appleproduct consumers had significantly reduced C-reactive protein levels,another measurable marker related to cardiovascular risk.
Furthermore, apple product consumers' diets were healthier thannon-consumers -- they had a greater intake of fruit and key nutrients,including dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium and potassium. Theseconsumers also ate less total fat, saturated fat, discretionary fat andadded sugars.
Metabolic syndrome is believed to affect an estimated 36 million Americans.Metabolic syndrome, also known as Syndrome X and insulin resistancesyndrome, is defined as having three or more of the associated symptoms,which include elevated blood pressure, increased waist size and abdominalfat, and elevated c-reactive protein levels.
Fulgoni, V., Fulgoni, S., Haaga, S., Ebert, A. Apple consumption isassociated with increased nutrient intakes and reduced risk of metabolicsyndrome in adults from the National health and Nutrition ExaminationSurvey (1999-2004). Experimental Biology 2008 Poster Presentation(unpublished).
Audio-Link Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=733911
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