Abstract
Apple pomace, which is a waste byproduct of processing, is rich in several nutrients, particularly dietary fiber, indicating potential benefits for diseases that are attributed to poor diets, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD affects over 25% of United States population and is increasing in children. Increasing fruit consumption can influence NAFLD. The study objective was to replace calories in standard or Western diets with apple pomace to determine the effects on genes regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and on risk of NAFLD. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned (n = 8 rats/group) to isocaloric diets of AIN-93G and AIN-93G/10% w/w apple pomace (AIN/AP) or isocaloric diets of Western (45% fat, 33% sucrose) and Western/10% w/w apple pomace (Western/AP) diets for eight weeks. There were no significant effects on hepatic lipid metabolism in rats fed AIN/AP. Western/AP diet containing fiber-rich apple pomace attenuated fat vacuole infiltration, elevated monounsaturated fatty acid content, and triglyceride storage in the liver due to higher circulating bile and upregulated hepatic DGAT2 gene expression induced by feeding a Western diet. The study results showed the replacement of calories in Western diet with apple pomace attenuated NAFLD risk. Therefore, apple pomace has the potential to be developed into a sustainable functional food for human consumption.
Highlights
One-third of apples harvested in the United States (USA) are processed into apple products [1]
Apple pomace is a rich source of various nutrients, but it is high in non-digestible carbohydrates and dietary fibers, indicating potential benefits for reducing metabolic dysfunction, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [5]
(18:3n-3) content were approximately seven-fold lower (p < 0.0001) in Western diets when compared to a standard purified rodent diet (AIN) diets
Summary
One-third of apples harvested in the United States (USA) are processed into apple products [1]. Apple pomace is a byproduct of apple processing that includes: skin, stem, seeds, core, and calyx [2]. Apple pomace is a rich source of various nutrients (e.g., phytochemicals, vitamins, dietary minerals), but it is high in non-digestible carbohydrates and dietary fibers, indicating potential benefits for reducing metabolic dysfunction, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [5]. NAFLD is characterized by dysregulated lipid metabolism and liver steatosis. It is the most prevalent liver disease worldwide with reports of over 25% of the population having NAFLD [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
