Does Habitual Fruit Consumption Modulate Microvascular Endothelial Function in Healthy Human Participants?

Abstract

BackgroundPrevious studies have reported inverse association between fruit consumption and cardiovascular risk.AimWe investigated whether increasing habitual fruit consumption improves capillary blood flow and endothelial function in healthy participants.MethodsData were collected from 66 individuals (45.7±9.27y; 23M; 43F). Fruit portion consumption ranging from 0‐8 was measured using 'FACET' validated questionnaires. Microvascular function was measured using controlled Laser Doppler Iontophoresis (Moor LDI), with acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), delivered to dermal forearm vessels, at 100 µA x 60s.ResultsResults are presented on a log scale in Table 1. No statistically significant differences were observed with increasing fruit portions when compared to a null reference point. Table 1 Model 1* Model 2** Ref coeff (95% CI) Ref coeff (95% CI) Fruit portions 1 0.22 (‐0.024 ‐ 0.46) 0.22 (‐0.04 ‐ 0.49) 2 0.20 (‐0.04 ‐ 0.44) 0.21 (‐0.04 ‐ 0.46) 3 0.06 (‐0.17 ‐ 0.30) 0.08 (‐0.17 ‐ 0.32) 4‐8 0.04 (‐0.19 ‐ 0.28) 0.04 (‐0.22 ‐ 0.29) P trend 0.515 0.450 *Adjusted for BMI, Age, Gender, Income**Adjusted for BMI, Age, Gender, Income and Fruit Juice ConsumptionConclusionThese findings suggest that self‐reported habitual fruit consumption (with and without fruit juice) in line with general recommendations does not significantly modulate an otherwise sensitive vascular biomarker such as LDI. This strengthens the case for controlled fruit intervention studies.