An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A saying confirmed by a Norwegian study which evaluated, in more than 3,000 women, the impact of regular consumption of flavonoids on bone mineral density in the hip and spine.
They concluded that fruits rich in antioxidants, such as apple, have significant effects on bones, in particular increased bone mass and greater bone strength.
These “osteoprotective” effects are linked to the antioxidants in fruits, which promote the mineralization of osteoblasts and reduce the action of osteoclasts (bone health results from a balance between osteoblasts, cells that “form bone”, and osteoclasts , which degrade the bone to allow its renewal).
These scientists note a positive relationship between the total consumption of flavonoids – with a particularly noticeable effect for anthocyanins and flavones (very present in apples) – and good bone density.
A team of researchers from Texas also asserts, in a December 2012 study, a positive association between fruit consumption and better bone mineral density, based on a compilation of studies evaluating the effect of the active components of fruit ( lycopene, flavonoids, phenolic acids, reveratrol, phloridzin and pectins derived from tomatoes, grapes, apples and citrus fruits).
This new scientific information confirms the results of a study by the University of Cambridge and a French study which underline the positive effect of regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, and particularly apples, on the bones.
