Research on Apple

Flávia A P Ribeiro and colleagues considers that apples have plenty of phytochemicals, including flavonoids (catechins, flavonols, quercetin) and phenolic acids (quercetin glycosides, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidins), vitamins, and fibers, and most of them have antioxidant properties. And, chemoprevention means the use of natural or synthetic agents to interfere with the progression, reverse, or inhibit carcinogenesis, thereby reducing the risk of developing clinically invasive disease.Researchers studied how apples might help prevent cancer. They tested apple extracts in both lab experiments (in-vitro) and on live animals (in-vivo). Their findings suggest that certain components in apples might fight cancer by protecting cells from damage and regulating cell growth. However, more research is needed. Scientists need to pinpoint the exact substances in apples that have this anticancer effect. They also want to find out when and how much apple is most beneficial. Large studies involving people (randomized controlled trials) would be ideal for this. Additionally, studies on animals can provide valuable insights into how apples might benefit our overall health and potentially prevent other diseases like cancer. In short, this area deserves further exploration. It could lead to a new approach to health, not just for apples, but for other fruits with potential to fight diseases. (1)

Roberto Fabiani and colleagues ran a meta-analysis checking whether an association exists between apple intake and cancer risk. They examined 41 studies on apples and cancer risk. These studies fell into two categories: Case-control studies (20) and cohort studies (21): Case-control studies compare people with cancer to those without, looking back at their apple consumption habits. Cohort studies follow people over time, tracking their apple intake and who develops cancer. They found: 1. Studies on lung cancer showed a clear benefit from eating apples, regardless of whether they were case-control or cohort studies. This means people who ate the most apples had a significantly lower risk of lung cancer. 2. Studies on other cancers like colorectal, breast, and overall digestive tract cancers were less conclusive. Case-control studies suggested apples might help prevent these cancers, but long-term cohort studies didn't find the same effect. This could be due to other factors in people's diets that weren't considered in the studies. While apples might be helpful for lung cancer, more research is needed to confirm their impact on other cancers. It's also important to consider people's overall diet, not just apple consumption. (2)

REFERENCES

(1) Flávia A P Ribeiro et al, The chemopreventive activity of apple against carcinogenesis: antioxidant activity and cell cycle control, Eur J Cancer Prev

. 2014 Sep;23(5):477-80. 

(2) Roberto Fabiani et al, Apple intake and cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies, Public Health Nutr. 2016 Oct;19(14):2603-17.