Apple pectin and polyphenol-rich apple juice have an anticarcinogenic effect on the colon, encouraging the production of suspected chemopreventative metabolite butyrate, say researchers. Butyrate is a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) that has been found to be a major factor contributing to healthy colon mucosa.
The study, published in the April issue of Nutrition, looked at human fecal matter fermented with apple constituents and found a significantly increased yield of SCFA, most notably butyrate.
“Butyrate not only serves as a major nutrient for the colon epithelia but is also thought to play an important role in the protective effect of natural fiber against colorectal cancer,” said the German research team, led by Dieter Schrenk. This is the not the first study to find benefits of fruits in cancer prevention and treatment. A recent study in California found low doses of freeze-dried grape powder could inhibit the development of colorectal cancer thanks to the polyphenol resveratrol and synergistic effects between the grape compounds.
The Study
Fecal slurry from healthy individuals was fermented with apple constituents, such as apple pectin and apple juice extracts that were high in polyphenols. The samples that were fermented with pectin were rich in butyrate and the scientists concluded that this assisted in colon health because of its effect on histone deacetylases (HDAC).
When the butyrate content was high, HDAC was inhibited. With slower production of HDAC, there would be signifcantly less growth of precancerous and tumor cells. Fermentations with pectin were very active in HDAC inhibition in nuclear extracts prepared from the colon tumor cell lines HT-29 and Caco-2 and in intact HeLa Mad 38 cells bearing a reporter gene driven by HDAC inhibition.
Fecal slurry fermented with apple juice extracts showed lower butyrate yields but comparable HDAC inhibition. Combined incubations of pectin with apple juice extracts resulted in effects similar to those with pectin as the only substrate added.
The researchers concluded that butyrate is the most relevant HDAC inhibitor formed in fermentations of human fecal slurry with apple pectin, whereas addition of apple juice extracts leads to the formation of butyrate and other HDAC inhibitors, which are as yet unknown.
The study presents some sound findings to act as a base for further study into colon cancer prevention, which is the third most prolific type of cancer in western industrialized countries, causing 650,000 deaths a year.
Sources: Nutrition April 2008, 366-374, doi:10.1016/j.nut.2007.12.013
GLISODIN AND SUN-SENSITIVES
It is widely understood that unprotected skin can be severely damaged by exposure to ultraviolet rays (UV) radiation generated by the sun. Besides a sunburn (erythema) that is a visible reaction to the sun, the rays that emanate can set off a chain reaction within the skin, including itching, pruritus, and in about 15 percent of the population, sun allergy.
UV rays have three wavelengths, including UVA, UVB and UVC. These rays can damage collagen fibers, which, over a period of time, result in visual aging, such as wrinkles and a dry, leathery appearance. UVA is the least harmful, but through time and exposure does contribute to skin aging and DNA damage. UVB rays are most damaging to DNA; they corrupt DNA molecules by causing malformations that can lead to mutations and unhealthy cell production.
Complementary skin Protection
Now a dietary supplement with outstanding clinical evidence called GliSODin has been shown to help protect the skin from the inside, complementing topical sunscreens and protective clothing. GliSODin is a distinctive and powerful antioxidant catalyst, meaning it works to increase the body’s own production of its natural antioxidant defenses, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), helping the body to disarm the reactive oxygen species triggered by sunrays. This protective benefit is particularly beneficial for the sun sensitive.
GliSODin’s benefits protecting cells against oxidative stress are supported by three studies looking at the effects of sunlight and UV on the skin, inducing photo-oxidative stress.
The studies expanded on pilot trials with the sun sensitive. GliSODin supplementation activates the most powerful antioxidants known, the body’s own internal antioxidant defense system, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (Cat) and Glutathione Peroxidase (Gpx). This mechanism helps maintain cellular health and protect against damage caused by oxidative stress, including skin health against photo-oxidative stress.
Fun in the sun should be enjoyed through good sun safety habits that include generous use of high-quality sunscreens/blocks, wearing sunglasses, drinking lots of water to hydrate the skin and, especially for the sun sensitive, consider the addition of GliSOD in daily.
APPLES LOWER RISK FOR METABOLIC SYNDROME
Not eating your apple a day? Perhaps you should be. Adults who eat apples, apple juice and applesauce have a significantly reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health problems that are linked to numerous chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The study results, presented at the Experimental Biology 2008 meeting, were derived from an analysis of adult food consumption data collected 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 the association between 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 percent decreased likelihood of being diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Fulgoni notes, “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.”
In addition to having a 30 percent decreased likelihood for elevated diastolic blood pressure and a 36 percent decreased likelihood for elevated systolic blood pressure, apple product consumers also had a 21 percent reduced risk of increased waist circumference—all predictors of cardiovascular disease and an increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome.
Additionally, adult apple product consumers had significantly reduced c-reactive protein levels, another measurable marker related to cardiovascular risk.
Furthermore, apple product consumers’ diets were healthier than non-consumers—they had a greater intake of fruit and key nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium and potassium. These consumers also ate less total fat, saturated fat, discretionary fat and added sugars.
Metabolic syndrome is believed to affect an estimated 36 million Americans. 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.
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