title: Acute anti-hyperglycaemic effects of an unripe apple preparation containing phlorizin in healthy volunteers: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The health-promoting properties of apples are directly related to the biologically active compounds that they contain, such as polyphenols. The objective of this study was to prepare a low-sugar, fibre- and phlorizin-enriched powder from unripe apples and to gain insight regarding its anti-hyperglycaemic activity in healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The unripe apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) were collected 30 days after the full bloom day; blanched and pressed to obtain apple pomace which was then processed with a food cutter, oven-dried and milled to prepare apple powder. The concentrations of total sugars, water-soluble pectin and phlorizin in the apple preparation were 153.44 ± 2.46, 27.73 ± 0.51 and 12.61 ± 0.15 g kg(-1), respectively. Acute ingestion of the apple preparation improved glucose metabolism in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in six healthy volunteers by reducing the postprandial glucose response at 15 to 30 min by approximately two-fold (P < 0.05) and by increasing urinary glucose excretion during the 2- to 4-h interval of the OGTT by five-fold (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained indicate that the dried and powdered pomace of unripe apples can be used as a health-promoting natural product for the reduction of postprandial glycaemia and to improve the health of patients with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles Street 21, LV-1006, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makarova
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Górnaś
authors.forename: Ilze
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Konrade
authors.forename: Dace
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tirzite
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cirule
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulbe
authors.forename: Iveta
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pugajeva
authors.forename: Dalija
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seglina
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dambrova
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027845:Malus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010368:Pectins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010695:Phlorhizin / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011208:Powders; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D011208:Powders; D010368:Pectins; D010695:Phlorhizin
keywords: fibre; glucose excretion; glucose tolerance test; phlorizin; polyphenols; unripe apples