Apples Proving They Can Keep the Doctor Away

Muscle wasting or muscle atrophy due to loss of muscle tissue. Common causes listed included little or no physical activity, inactive life style and some medical conditions which decrease mobility such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

Now a University of Iowa study had examined apples, to be more exact the peel of the apples. The peels waxy substance called ursolic acid.

The study had demonstrated that the ursolic acid contained in the apples peel had decreased muscle wasting and advanced muscle growth in mice. However, that was not the end of benefits from this substance. It also decreased fat, blood sugar levels, cholesterol and triglycerides in animals. The discovery suggests that not only may it be valuable as a treatment for muscle wasting but also for metabolic disorders such as diabetes.

According to Dr. Christopher Adams, M.D., PhD, endocrinologist and senior author of the study, muscle wasting is common. It affects most people at some point during their life, during illness or aging. It is also a very big problem, since there is no medication available to treat it. Researchers studied muscle gene activity in people with atrophy and had used that information to locate chemicals that may block it. One of the chemicals in which was very interesting to researchers was ursolic acid and it is especially rich in apple peels.

Researcher tested ursolic acid in mice and discovered that it had increased the size and strength of their muscles. According to Dr. Adams, it did this by aiding two hormones which build muscles, insulin and insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1). Since ursolic acid increased muscle it decreased muscle atrophy. The other benefits like reduced body fat and lowered blood glucose and cholesterol came as a surprise.

Researchers had targeted ursolic acid using connectivity maps. This is a new technique in which compares gene expression patterns in cells under various conditions. Researchers concluded which genes are turned on and off in human muscle wasting during atrophy and compared that pattern with gene expression patterns in cultured cell lines treated with a registry of different compounds. Researchers had found that one compound, ursolic acid caused a pattern of gene expression which was the opposite pattern caused by atrophy. This then advocated that ursolic acid may be able to reverse atrophy.

Researchers in following experiments affirmed that mice fed ursolic acid were actually protected from muscle atrophy which was caused by both fasting and nerve damage. In addition, healthy mice who were fed ursolic acid realized larger, stronger muscles in comparison to mice that were not fed ursolic acid.

The study proposes that ursolic acids ability both to stop muscle wasting and promote muscle growth comes from its ability to influence IGF1. This hormone closely related to insulin, both bind to receptors on muscle cells activating a flood of cellular pathways that either boost muscle growth or obstruct atrophy. Ursolic acid seems to heighten the actions of receptors for IGF1 and insulin while increasing the beneficial effects of those hormones in the muscle.

The other compelling fact was ursolic acid increased muscle weight in mice but did not add to body weight of the mice. Further examination had shown that mice fed ursolic acid had less body fat in comparison to the mice that did not have the compound.

The researchers are hoping to go forward with this research in human trials.

Other studies have shown that phytonutrients found in apples could possibly protect the brain from diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Apples also contain both soluble and insoluble fiber which helps with digestion and weight loss. They are listed as a low-glycemic food and do not cause a fast rise in blood sugar. Apples are considered a weight loss food due to the natural chemical called pectin. Pectin restricts the amount of fat the cells absorb. It also is great at detoxifying the liver and removing all the toxins out of the body.

Fiber found in fruits such as apples decrease the risk of obesity, diabetes, bad cholesterol levels, heart disease, Crohn's disease and more.

There is an extensive list of benefits from the apple. Have an apple and you may just keep the doctor away after all. UI Healthcare

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