J Functl Foods：每天吃一个苹果可防动脉硬化

一项小规模的研究显示，如果健康人每天吃一个苹果，持续四周，就能使血液中动脉硬化相关物质——氧化低密度脂蛋白减少40%。相关论文发表在最近出版的《功能食品期刊》（Journal of Functional Foods）期刊上。

之前有研究指出，苹果含有多酚类物质，这是一种抗氧化成分，如果把这些成分制成胶囊，虽然可达到一点点保健效果，但效果终究不大。而这项研究则发现，苹果似乎可减少血液中的氧化低密度脂蛋白。

低密度脂蛋白属于“坏”胆固醇，当低密度脂蛋白与自由基产生作用，便会氧化，进而使身体发炎反应加剧，且也可能造成身体组织受到损害。一旦低密度脂蛋白氧化，就容易造成动脉粥状硬化。为了进行该项研究，美国俄亥俄州州立大学的研究人员对51名、不吸烟的成年人进行了研究，这些人的年龄介于40至60岁，过去都没有特别吃苹果、保健食品的习惯。

研究人员把他们分为三组，有16人每天吃一个苹果，另有17人每天吃194毫克多酚胶囊，还有18人则食用安慰剂。研究结果显示，吃苹果的效果要比仅吃多酚萃取物好，这可能是苹果含有其他生物活性物质，有助于养分吸收。

该研究显示，每天只要吃一个苹果，连续吃四周，就能减少低密度脂蛋白氧化现象。研究人员指出，每天吃一个苹果，要会比食用姜黄素萃取物、绿茶萃取物、蕃茄萃取物更能有效降低氧化低密度脂蛋白。事实上，并非所有抗氧化成分都有这种效果。（生物谷Bioon.com）

doi:10.1016/j.jff.2012.08.010
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Intakes of apples or apple polyphenols decease plasma values for oxidized low-density lipoprotein/beta2-glycoprotein I complex

Shi Zhao, Joshua Bomser, Elizabeth L. Joseph, Robert A. DiSilvestro,

Many dietary modifications have been proposed to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, but often, these modifications require substantial effort. In contrast, in healthy middle aged adults, consumption of just one apple/day for 4 weeks drastically lowered plasma concentrations of oxidized low-density lipoprotein/beta2-glycoprotein I complex (oxLDL-β2GPI), a proposed contributor to atherosclerosis. OxLDL-β2GPI values were also lowered by capsules of apple polyphenol extract, though not as much as with whole apples. Placebo capsules had no effect. The decrease in OxLDL-β2GPI concentrations in response to intake of apples or apple polyphenol extract were not accompanied by increased erythrocyte activities of superoxide dismutase 1, an antioxidant enzyme that can inhibit lipoprotein oxidation. In summary, an easily accomplished dietary intervention had a major effect on an atherosclerosis risk factor, in part via polyphenols, but not necessarily via superoxide dismutase.

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