Scientists from Université Laval in Canada have found that drinking apple juice may offer benefits for heart health.
A high intake of fruits and vegetables is widely known to help prevent heart disease.
Previous research has shown that many biologically active compounds in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of a wide range of chronic conditions, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Apples, in particular, have attracted significant scientific interest for several reasons.
They are affordable, widely available, and versatile, while also offering high nutritional value and a rich profile of bioactive compounds.
Numerous studies have reported that regular apple consumption is linked to improved heart and metabolic health, as well as a lower risk of chronic disease.
However, far fewer studies have examined whether apples consumed in different forms—such as juice, pomace, cider, or vinegar—provide the same health benefits as whole fruit. Apple juice, in particular, may offer a convenient way to obtain some of the beneficial compounds found in apples.
One previous study analyzed data from the 2013–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. It found that people who drank 100% fruit juice had a 10% higher Healthy Eating Index (2015) score compared with non-consumers, along with higher intakes of vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and overall energy.
In the current review, researchers set out to summarize existing clinical evidence on the health effects of apple juice consumption in humans. The team reviewed 20 interventional clinical studies.
Overall, the findings suggest that apple juice intake is associated with several markers of heart health, many of which may also be relevant to cancer and brain health in older adults. Most of the reported benefits were related to reduced oxidative stress, with additional observations involving inflammation markers, blood lipid levels, and diabetes-related measures.
The researchers conclude that drinking apple juice in moderation may have positive effects on heart disease risk, particularly by reducing oxidative stress.
The study was published in Nutrients and conducted by Bastien Vallée Marcotte and colleagues.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer, and herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how espresso coffee affects your cholesterol level, and results showing Vitamin K2 could help reduce heart disease risk.
