Apple Compound May Protect Against Heart Disease

Cell wall polysaccharides containing high amounts of arabinose and/or xylose such as apple pectin were found to help to protect against heart attack in earlier studies by researchers from the Catholic University of Daegu; xyloglucan was hypothesized to also exhibit myocardial protection in this study, which is an apple cell wall polysaccharide containing high amounts of xylose.

For three days rats were supplemented with cotton cellulose or xyloglucan, then the animals underwent 30 minutes of ischemia which was followed by 3 hours of reperfusion or blood flow restoration to test their hypothesis.

Supplementation was found to significantly decrease infarct size and increase expression of myoglobin and fatty acid binding protein which play roles in apoptosis and ATP generation; apoptosis was also inhibited by decreasing p38 and JNK phosphorylation, increasing Bcl-2/Bax ratio, inhibiting conversion of procaspase-3 to cleaved caspase-3, and decreasing generation of DNA nicks. Xyloglucan in apple was concluded to protect against heart attack and lower the risk of coronary heart disease by inhibiting cell death and improving energy metabolism based on their findings.

The epithelial barrier is important to maintaining health, disruption of function has been associated with various gastrointestinal, respiratory, and mucosal diseases. Xyloglucan was found to be a safe non-pharmacological alternative for managing a variety of diseases including nasal and gastrointestinal disorders in a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in which University of Barcelona and the Institute of Food Science Technology and Nutrition researchers reported xyloglucan having barrier protective properties, and a mucin-like molecular structure that exhibited mucoadhesive properties which enabled xyloglucan to act as a barrier to reduce bacterial adherence and invasion, as well as preserve tight junctions and paracellular flux.

Xyloglucan has proved effective at reducing symptoms of gastroenteritis in clinical trials involving adults and children. It also reduced nasal disorders, dry eye syndrome, and may be beneficial in treating IBS and UTIs. It was confirmed to have film forming barrier protective properties which make it a promising alternative for various health problems including nasal and gastrointestinal disorders based on their findings.

It is never too late to take care of your heart whatever your age may be, people of all ages can benefit from making healthy lifestyle and dietary changes. It is best to choose foods that are low in trans fat, sodium, and saturated fats; choose lots of organic produce, whole grains, nuts, legumes, seeds, and fatty fish to help lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Avoiding being sedentary and being more physically active is important to heart health, try starting with 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity such as brisk walk or hiking a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity such as jogging or running. Adding resistance/strength training for 2 days a week will add to and even accelerate benefits. It is always best to avoid smoking and secondhand smoke, manage/reduce stress, and get enough sleep to help prevent the development of heart problems.