Benefits of apples, evidence accumulates

     Further evidence that apples protect against heart disease was found in a recent study conducted at the University of California-Davis Medical Center.

     Researchers led by Dianne Hyson, demonstrated that apples and apple juice may help to slow the oxidation process involved in the buildup of plaque that leads to heart disease.
     The UC-Davis study showed that daily consumption of 12 ounces of apple juice reduced oxidation of the ''bad'' LDL cholesterol in healthy men and women. This same effect was shown with the consumption of about two fresh apples, but to a slightly lesser extent.
Twenty-five healthy subjects, including 12 males and 13 females, completed the 12-week study. The speed at which LDL cholesterol is oxidized, that is, exposed to oxygen in the body, is an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis (the thickening of arteries) due to the buildup of fatty plaque in arteries' walls. If LDL cholesterol doesn't have time to oxidize before being naturally removed from the body, then it cannot contribute to atherosclerosis, the researchers suggested.
     During both diets, study participants exhibited significant reductions in the formation of conjugated dienes. Whenever conjugated dienes are reduced, it is an indication that LDL oxidation is reduced. The UC-Davis researchers said that findings of this study are similar to previously published studies on tea and red wine that reported a similar reduction in oxidation.

Source: Onhealth.com

14/3/2001

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