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# Apple pectin helps metabolic syndrome
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/apple-pectin-helps-metabolic-syndrome/
- Published: 2008-06-12T18:11:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:55:50.000Z
- Description: In Zucker rats, a diet with 10 percent highly methoxylated apple pectin cut cholesterol about as much as beta-glucan did, and produced larger drops in body weight, triglycerides and blood glucose. Whether the same holds in people has not been tested.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Phytochemicals, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

The study showed that highly methoxylated apple pectin (HMAP) had an effect on cholesterol reduction similar to that of beta-glucan which has been known to have hypocholesterolemic effects.

The study was conducted in Zucker rats, the model used to study genetic obesity and the human metabolic syndrome, and the results were published in the journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

In the study, researchers fed the three groups of female rats a standard diet, a standard diet supplemented with 10 percent apple pectin with a 73 percent methylation degree, and a standard diet supplemented with beta-glucan for seven weeks.

Both supplement groups had reductions in blood insulin levels and insulin resistance and secretion.

The apple pectin group also experienced a greater reduction in body weight, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose levels than the beta-glucan group.

Metabolic syndrome comes with a cluster of symptoms including obesity, hypertension, and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism. The condition has been associated with elevated risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

If the results can be duplicated in humans, the apple pectin may benefit an estimated 35 percent of American adults with metabolic syndrome.

By David Liu, Ph.D., and edited by Heather Kelley.  
Jun 12, 2008 - 5:19:55 PM