Effect of Apple and Apple Pomace on Inflammation and Cholesterol Metabolism in Healthy Overweight

• Blood lipid profile (triacylglycerol and total-, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Blood lipid profile (triacylglycerol and total-, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• Blood pressure [ Time Frame: Measured at week 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Blood pressure [ Time Frame: Measured at week 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Anthropometry (weight, height, waist and hip circumference) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Anthropometry (weight, height, waist and hip circumference) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Inflammatory marker (hs-CRP) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Inflammatory marker (hs-CRP) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Faeces analyses (metabolomics, pH, bile acids, short-chain fatty acids) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Faeces analyses (metabolomics, pH, bile acids, short-chain fatty acids) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Urine analyses (metabolomics) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Urine analyses (metabolomics) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Serum insulin, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels [ Time Frame: Measured at week 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Serum insulin, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels [ Time Frame: Measured at week 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Gene expression in white blood cells and colon tissue [ Time Frame: Measured at week 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Gene expression in white blood cells and colon tissue [ Time Frame: Measured at week 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Enzyme activity in lysed erythrocytes (glutathione peroxidase) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Enzyme activity in lysed erythrocytes (glutathione peroxidase) [ Time Frame: Measured at week 6 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The investigators will assess the protective and antiinflammatory effects of processed fruit and fruit fibre in overweight subjects with signs of metabolic syndrome. A single-blinded parallel study is conducted to investigate the protective effects of fruit fibre on colonic epithelium. Relevant signalling pathways related to cholesterol metabolism, vascular inflammation, oxidative defence, apoptosis and sterol metabolism will be targeted. Volunteers are randomly assigned one of three groups. They are instructed to follow a polyphenol and pectin restricted diet for six weeks. The last four weeks in this six week period, the restricted diet is supplemented with whole apples (550g/day), apple pomace (22g/day) or nothing. Blood, urine, faecal samples and colon biopsies are collected before and after the four weeks intervention period.

• Dietary Supplement: Apples
  550g of apples/day
• Dietary Supplement: Apple pomace
  22g apple pomace/day

• No Intervention: control
• Active Comparator: Apples
  Intervention: Dietary Supplement: Apples
• Active Comparator: Apple pomace
  Intervention: Dietary Supplement: Apple pomace

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy
• BMI over 30
• No daily medication
• Not strenuous exercise > 10hours/week
• No blood donation 3 months before or during the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smoking
• Simultaneous participation in other research projects
• Use of any dietary supplements

• Technical University of Denmark
• Viborg Hospital