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Eating an apple a day is supposed to keep the doctor
away, and now researchers have found one reason the old adage might be
true. Men who eat five or more apples a week appear to have better lung
function than men who do not eat the fruit. This finding is consistent
with results from other large epidemiological studies which have reported
positive associations between lung function and the consumption of fresh
fruit. The study could not determine if the apples themselves are responsible
for better lung function, or if apple-eaters had healthier lifestyles
in general.
However, apple consumption did not appear to protect
against a decline in lung function during the study. Changes in lung function
over the 5-year follow-up period were not associated with changes in diet
of any kind, according to the report. The researchers determined that
vitamin C was not related to lung function after they took into account
other factors that affect the lungs. Instead, another antioxidant might
be involved, according to the researchers. Apples contain a flavonoid
called quercetin, which is also found in onions, tea, and red wine. This
antioxidant may help to protect the lungs from the cellular damage caused
by smoking and air pollution.
Thorax January 2000;55:102-108
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