Dried Apple versus Dried Plum: Impact on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Postmenopausal Women

JOURNAL: J Acad Nutr Diet 2012.;112:1158-1168.

AUTHORS: Chai SC, Hooshmand S, Saadat R, Payton ME, Brummel-Smith K and Arjmandi BH.

This 1-year clinical trial investigated the effect of dried apple (75 g) vs dried plum (about 100 g) matched for calories, carbohydrate, fat and fiber on lowering cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in postmenopausal women. There were no significant differences between the dried fruit interventions in altering serum levels of atherogenic cholesterol levels except at 6 months with the dried apple intervention. Dried plum consumption lowered serum total and LDL cholesterol by 3.5% and 8% respectively at 12 months compared to baseline, but the decline was not statistically significant. Both dried fruits lowered serum levels of lipid hydroperoxide and C-reactive protein (CRP). However, serum CRP levels were significantly lower in the dried plum group compared with the apple group at 3 months. The investigators concluded that consumption of both dried apple and dried plum are beneficial to human health in terms of anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.