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

We found higher EE during 2.5h following one large drink compared with five smaller beverages. Since hunger was also suppressed more efficiently, and serum GLP-1 levels were higher after one compared with five smaller drinks, our findings do not support nibbling to avoid hunger or to keep up EE from morning to noon.

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.

Frequent fruit consumption has been associated with lower office blood pressure. Less is known about associations between fruit consumption and home blood pressure. Our aim was to study the correlation between consumption of specific fruits and home blood pressure in a large randomly selected study population. The main outcome was systolic home blood pressure. Home blood pressure measurements were performed with calibrated oscillometric meters during seven consecutive days. Means for all available measurements were used. Validated food frequency questionnaires were used for estimating frequency of fruit consumption. The specified fruits were bananas, apples/pears and oranges/citrus fruit. Complete case analysis regarding fruit consumption, office‐ and home blood pressure measurements and other relevant variables was performed in 2283 study participants out of 2603 available. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed. There were statistically significant associations between consumption of all fruit types and lower systolic home blood pressure unadjusted (p for trend; bananas, apples/pears and oranges/citrus fruit p < .001). The numerical differences between most and least frequent consumption of fruit were for bananas ‐2.7 mm Hg, apples/pears ‐3.9 mm Hg and for oranges/citrus fruit ‐3.4 mm Hg. When adjusted for covariates, both consumption of apples/pears and oranges/citrus fruit had an independent statistically significant association with lower blood pressure (p = .048 resp. p = .009). Future controlled interventional studies are needed to evaluate the effect of specific fruit on home blood pressure.

Objective: Fruit consumption has in epidemiological studies been associated with lower blood pressure. We studied if home blood pressure was different when eating fruit daily compared to non-daily. Design and method: The study design was cross-sectional. Validated food frequency questionnaires and blood pressure monitors were used. The fruits asked for were bananas, apples and pears, citrus fruits including oranges and other fruit or berries. Dichotomisation was done into daily and non-daily fruit consumption. A subgroup analysis was performed regarding self-reported hypertension diagnosis at baseline. Means and differences were analysed with independent t-test. Results: In total there were 5057 participants (2531 men and 2526 women). Home blood pressure values were available in 5029 cases, with a mean of 120.8 ± 13.9 / 77.9 ± 8.7 mmHg. There were 1016 individuals in the population stating they had hypertension. Missing data on fruit consumption ranged from 18.0 % in the banana group to 28.1% in other fruit or berries in the total population. The proportion of individuals with valid values eating other fruit or berries daily was 18.9% (n = 686) and non-daily consumption at 81.1% (n = 2953). The systolic blood pressure levels for the population were on average significantly lower when consuming fruit daily. The greatest difference was when eating other fruit or berries daily (n = 679), with 116.8 ± 13.3 mmHg compared to 120.5 ± 13.8 mmHg non-daily (n = 2940, p < 0.001). The largest difference in the material was found in those with hypertension diagnosis eating other fruit or berries daily (n = 119) with 123.9 ± 13.8 mmHg compared to non-daily (n = 585) 129.7 ± 12.0 mmHg (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Overall the blood pressure levels were lower in those consuming fruit daily. The largest difference in systolic blood pressure was when having hypertension and eating other fruit or berries daily compared to non-daily. Due to cross-sectional design, inference analysis is not possible. Further studies on the impact of different fruit consumption on home blood pressure seem warranted, particularly in patients with hypertension.