Cancer
Apple pectin, apple juice extracts prevent colon cancer
By Ben Wasserman
Mar 27, 2008 - 2:51:06 PM

THURSDAY March 27, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- New research published in the April 2008 issue of Nutrition showed apple pectin and juice extracts may facilitate production of anticarcinogens during the fermentation process in the colon helping prevent cancer.

One anticarcinogen known as butyrate could be increased in the presence of apple pectin and apple juice extract, according to German researchers Dr. Dieter Schrenk MD and colleagues.

Butyrate is believed to be a chemo-preventive metabolite that might help prevent colorectal cancer, which is commonly found in Westerners.  The short chain fatty acid is seen as beneficial to healthy colon mucosa.

The research notes "Butyrate not only serves as a major nutrient for the colon epithelia but is also thought to play an important role in the protective effect of natural fiber against colorectal cancer."

Schrenk and colleagues found apple pectin and apple juice extracts increase production of butyrate, which in turn inhibits histone deacetylase.  Slowing production of this enzyme would significantly slow the growth of precancerous and tumor cells.

The researchers note "apples are a major source of natural fiber and of low molecular weight plan polyphenols in the Western diet." They conclude "Pectin-rich apple products can thus be expected to exert anticarginogenic effects in the colon."