title: Annurca (Malus pumila Miller cv. Annurca) apple as a functional food for the contribution to a healthy balance of plasma cholesterol levels: results of a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent human studies have evaluated the effect of daily apple consumption on plasma cholesterol level, which is recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nevertheless, slightly significant effects have been generally registered although consuming more than two apples a day for several weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study describes the influence of daily consumption of Annurca apples on the cholesterol levels of mildly hypercholesterolaemic healthy subjects. A monocentric, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, 4-month study was conducted. The subjects (n = 250) were randomly assigned to five treatment groups (each one of 50 subjects: 28 men and 22 women). Four groups were administered one apple per day among the following: Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Golden Delicious. The fifth group was asked to consume two Annurca apples per day, since the weight of this cultivar is on average half that of the commercial ones considered in this study. Comparing results, Annurca led to the most significant outcome, allowing a reduction in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 8.3% and 14.5%, respectively, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 15.2% (all P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data would reasonably indicate Annurca apple as a useful tool to contribute to the prevention of CVD risk through normal diet. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors: Gian Carlo
authors: GC
authors: Tenore
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Caruso
authors: Coop. Samnium Medica, 82037 Benevento, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Buonomo
authors: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: D'Urso
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Cardarelli, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: D'Avino
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Salerno, 84084 Salerno, Italy.
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Campiglia
authors: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Marinelli
authors: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors: Ettore
authors: E
authors: Novellino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism*; D055951:Functional Food / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D027845:Malus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Annurca apple PGI; HDL cholesterol; LDL cholesterol; clinical trial; total cholesterol