An apple a day may just keep the doctor away after all by reducing the symptoms that can lead to heart disease, says a new study.

According to the study, adults who eat apples or applesauce or drink apple juice have a reduced risk for developing metabolic syndrome, a group of health problems that can be precursors to heart disease and diabetes.

The study was presented at the recent Experimental Biology 2008 meeting in San Diego. The research was gleaned from data collected between 1999 and 2004 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the largest food consumption and health database of the United States government.

Those who consumed apple products were 27 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, compared to those who don't eat apple products.

Lead study author Dr. Victor 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."

The researchers did not come to any conclusions about how apples lower a person's risk for the symptoms of metabolic syndrome. But previous studies have exhibited health benefits from eating apples that range from being able to lose weight more easily to having a decreased risk for developing certain cancers.

Researchers also found that those who eat apples have healthier diets overall. They ate more fruit and consumed more nutrients such as fibre, vitamins A and C, calcium and potassium. They also ate less fat, saturated fat and added sugar.

Abstract:

Apple consumption is associated with increased nutrient intakes and reduced risk of metabolic syndrome in adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004)

Victor L Fulgoni, Sally A Fulgoni, Stacie Haaga, Andrew Ebert.

The association between consumption of apples/apple products, dietary intake and physiological parameters was examined in adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2004). Apple consumers were defined as those who reported consumption of apples, apple juice, or applesauce during a 24-hour dietary recall. When compared to non-consumers, adult (19-50 years, n=968) apple consumers had significantly (p<0.01) increased intakes of total fruit (2.5�0.07 vs 0.7�0.03 servings) and decreased intakes of added sugar (20.8�0.6 vs 26.7�0.5 tsp) and solid discretionary fat (47.5�0.8 vs 52.6�0.4 g). Apple consumers had significantly (p<0.02) greater intakes of dietary fiber (21�0.4 vs 15�0.2 g), vitamin A (731�27 vs 587�13 RE), vitamin C (129�5 vs 89�2 mg), calcium (1012�23 vs 903�10 mg) and potassium (3225�43 vs 2727�20 mg). A significantly lower diastolic blood pressure (71�0.4 vs 72�0.2 mm Hg, p<0.01) and a reduced C-reactive protein level (0.33�0 vs 0.39�0 mg/dl, p<0.01) was observed in apple consumers relative to nonconsumers. Consumers also had a 27% decreased likelihood of having metabolic syndrome (p<0.05), a 37% decreased likelihood for elevated blood pressure (p<0.01) and a 21% reduced risk of increased waist circumference (p<0.01). Therefore, apple/apple product consumption in adults is associated with greater nutrient density and a significant reduction in metabolic syndrome risk.

Supported by US Apple Association and Apple Products Research and Education Council.