BackgroundFruit has since long been advocated as a healthy source of many nutrients, however, the high content of sugars in fruit might be a concern.ObjectivesTo study effects of an increased fruit intake compared with similar amount of extra calories from nuts in humans.MethodsThirty healthy non-obese participants were randomized to either supplement the diet with fruits or nuts, each at +7 kcal/kg bodyweight/day for two months. Major endpoints were change of hepatic fat content (HFC, by magnetic resonance imaging, MRI), basal metabolic rate (BMR, with indirect calorimetry) and cardiovascular risk markers.ResultsWeight gain was numerically similar in both groups although only statistically significant in the group randomized to nuts (fruit: from 22.15±1.61 kg/m2 to 22.30±1.7 kg/m2, p = 0.24 nuts: from 22.54±2.26 kg/m2 to 22.73±2.28 kg/m2, p = 0.045). On the other hand BMR increased in the nut group only (p = 0.028). Only the nut group reported a net increase of calories (from 2519±721 kcal/day to 2763±595 kcal/day, p = 0.035) according to 3-day food registrations. Despite an almost three-fold reported increased fructose-intake in the fruit group (from 9.1±6.0 gram/day to 25.6±9.6 gram/day, p<0.0001, nuts: from 12.4±5.7 gram/day to 6.5±5.3 gram/day, p = 0.007) there was no change of HFC. The numerical increase in fasting insulin was statistical significant only in the fruit group (from 7.73±3.1 pmol/l to 8.81±2.9 pmol/l, p = 0.018, nuts: from 7.29±2.9 pmol/l to 8.62±3.0 pmol/l, p = 0.14). Levels of vitamin C increased in both groups while α-tocopherol/cholesterol-ratio increased only in the fruit group.ConclusionsAlthough BMR increased in the nut-group only this was not linked with differences in weight gain between groups which potentially could be explained by the lack of reported net caloric increase in the fruit group. In healthy non-obese individuals an increased fruit intake seems safe from cardiovascular risk perspective, including measurement of HFC by MRI.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02227511

Objectives/Aims:Fruit is often advocated as a healthy source of nutrients and vitamins. However, the high contents of sugars in many fruits could potentially counteract positive effects on the teeth.Materials and methods:We recruited 30 healthy non-obese participants who were randomised to either supplement their diet with extra fruits or nuts, each at +7 kcal/kg body weight/day, for 2 months.Results:Fructose intake increased from 9.1±6.0 to 25.6±9.6 g/day, P<0.0001, in the fruit group and was reduced from 12.4±5.7 to 6.5±5.3 g/day, P=0.007, in the nut group. Serum-vitamin C increased in both groups (fruit: P=0.017; nuts: P=0.009). α-Tocopherol/cholesterol ratio increased in the fruit group (P=0.0033) while β-carotene/cholesterol decreased in the nut group (P<0.0001). The amount of subjects with probing pocket depths ⩾4 mm in the fruit group was reduced (P=0.045) according to blinded examinations, and the difference in the changes in probing pockets ⩾4 mm was also statistically significant between the food groups (P=0.010).Conclusion:A large increase of fruit intake, compared with nuts, had a favourable effect on periodontal status in some respects, despite the high sugar contents. To search for potential protective micronutrients in fruit that protect the teeth could be an aim for further research.

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