None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate the conversion of naturally occurring apple AA2ßG to bioavailable ascorbic acid. Participants will consume three apple juice interventions: Apple juice, Apple juice + crab apple juice, Apple juice + ascorbic acid. Conversion will be determined by measurement of AA2ßG and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in plasma and urine samples collected at defined timepoints (baseline and 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours post intervention). Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an important and essential nutrient in the human diet. As ascorbic acid cannot be made by humans it has to be obtained from the diet. Fresh fruits and fruit juices, some vegetables, and fortified foods are all principal dietary sources of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid provides numerous health benefits. It plays a role in a number of vital processes in our body, for example it is involved in the growth and repair of the bodies tissue, it also has antioxidant function/properties that can protect against disease. A diet lacking ascorbic acid is most commonly associated with the disease scurvy. Compared to other fruit, for example kiwifruit, the ascorbic acid concentrations in apple fruit are rather low. However, recently Plant and Food Research (PFR) discovered an ascorbic acid glycoside (AA2ßG) in some apple fruit. In particular, crab apples have AA2ßG present in very high concentrations. AA2ßG has not been found in many other food sources making it very uncommon in the diet. It is hypothesised consuming apples high in AA2ßG will increase ascorbic acid bioavailability in humans through the conversion of AA2ßG to ascorbic acid. AA2ßG is thought to be easily converted to ascorbic acid in the digestive organs where it could be available to tissue and cells. Determining the in-vivo conversion of AA2ßG to ascorbic acid is significant as AA2ßG could be a target to increase ascorbic acid levels in humans. This increase in ascorbic acid levels is particularly important in vulnerable populations such as the elderly or malnourished.
Interventions
The 3 interventions being studied are apple juice.
1) Apple juice – is pressed commercial apple juice
2) Apple juice + crab apple juice - is a mix of apple juice and crab apple juice (23% and 77% respectively) the crab apple juice has naturally occurring ascorbyl 2-beta glucoside
3) Apple juice + ascorbic acid - is apple juice plus 85 mg of food grade ascorbic acid
This study is a three-arm crossover study. Each intervention will be delivered randomly, weekly, over three Trial Days – one Trial D
The 3 interventions being studied are apple juice. 1) Apple juice – is pressed commercial apple juice 2) Apple juice + crab apple juice - is a mix of apple juice and crab apple juice (23% and 77% respectively) the crab apple juice has naturally occurring ascorbyl 2-beta glucoside 3) Apple juice + ascorbic acid - is apple juice plus 85 mg of food grade ascorbic acid This study is a three-arm crossover study. Each intervention will be delivered randomly, weekly, over three Trial Days – one Trial Day for each apple juice intervention (Apple juice, Apple juice + crab apple juice, Apple juice + ascorbic acid). The trial co-ordinator will deliver the apple juice. Participants will consume 300 g of apple juice, consuming within 2 minutes, in a face to face clinical setting, at Plant and Food Research Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Sponsors
Dr Jocelyn Eason
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Healthy individual of any gender
Exclusion criteria
• have a chronic disease (heart disease, cancer, kidney failure, diabetes or conditions relating to the nervous system (e.g. multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke) • have a blood borne disease (e.g. hepatitis) • are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy in the immediate future • have a known intolerance, sensitivity or allergy to apples • are taking medication that affects the properties of blood (e.g. blood clotting) or immune function • have a strong reaction to having a blood sample taken from you (e.g. fainting, severe anxiety).
Outcome results
None listed