Spring Break
Fruit for thought
Eating fruit may prevent certain neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease
by Gabriel Verzino
Heart of the Matter
Features | 4/8/08
Posted online at 12:21 AM EST on 4/8/08
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away" never specified which type of doctor. As it turns out, the actual doctor is a neurosurgeon.
A recent study published last week revealed that eating fruits prevents a host of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Cornell University found that neurons' likelihood of degeneration, which lends to symptoms of Alzheimer's, were significantly reduced in the presence of fruit extracts.
The studies, performed by Dr. Chang Yong Lee and his colleagues, suggest that the extracts contain antioxidants integral in preventing the onset of Alzheimer's.
"The components we have been working with (in vitro) are phenolic antioxidants, such as quercetin, anthocyanins and catechins," Lee said.
When asked what all the research he had performed meant, Lee said, "We think that daily consumption of fruits and vegetables that contain high amounts of these compounds may have beneficial effects on Alzheimer's disease."
The study was very cleverly performed. In the experiment, rat cells were purposely exposed to hydrogen peroxide, a technique developed by Lee, to cause oxidative stress, a process that is known to cause the development of Alzheimer's disease. When these damaged cells were treated with the antioxidants quercetin, anthocyanin and catechin, which is found in bananas, oranges and apples, the proportion of cells that died was reduced. Dr. Lee discovered that greater concentrations of fruit extract created greater protective effects.
Although the finding was promising in the laboratory, Dr. Lee explained that "a large scale human clinical study will be required in order to confirm our laboratory findings."
But until that point, the study still offers important proof that could be useful to us later in life. Interestingly enough, the study also showed that we can obtain the same preventative benefits by drinking apple juice.
The antioxidant quercetin is more prevalent in apple skins, but apples also contains a significant degree of this substance in the flesh, so the effects are still at work in Minute Maid apple juice.
A recent study published last week revealed that eating fruits prevents a host of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Cornell University found that neurons' likelihood of degeneration, which lends to symptoms of Alzheimer's, were significantly reduced in the presence of fruit extracts.
The studies, performed by Dr. Chang Yong Lee and his colleagues, suggest that the extracts contain antioxidants integral in preventing the onset of Alzheimer's.
"The components we have been working with (in vitro) are phenolic antioxidants, such as quercetin, anthocyanins and catechins," Lee said.
When asked what all the research he had performed meant, Lee said, "We think that daily consumption of fruits and vegetables that contain high amounts of these compounds may have beneficial effects on Alzheimer's disease."
The study was very cleverly performed. In the experiment, rat cells were purposely exposed to hydrogen peroxide, a technique developed by Lee, to cause oxidative stress, a process that is known to cause the development of Alzheimer's disease. When these damaged cells were treated with the antioxidants quercetin, anthocyanin and catechin, which is found in bananas, oranges and apples, the proportion of cells that died was reduced. Dr. Lee discovered that greater concentrations of fruit extract created greater protective effects.
Although the finding was promising in the laboratory, Dr. Lee explained that "a large scale human clinical study will be required in order to confirm our laboratory findings."
But until that point, the study still offers important proof that could be useful to us later in life. Interestingly enough, the study also showed that we can obtain the same preventative benefits by drinking apple juice.
The antioxidant quercetin is more prevalent in apple skins, but apples also contains a significant degree of this substance in the flesh, so the effects are still at work in Minute Maid apple juice.
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