Effects of Apple Supplement and Unsupervised Home-based Brisk Walking on Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Elevated levels of cholesterol present in Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) are directly associated with atherosclerosis. Therefore, the present study was an attempt to analyze the effect of apple supplement, restricted dietary fat and unsupervised home-based brisk walking program on the level of LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C). Fourteen participants (11 males and 3 females) recruited voluntarily from Punjabi University, Patiala, constituted the study group. They were further subdivided into 2 groups. Whereas Group I consisted of participants with body mass index > 25 kg/m2 and LDL-C> 110 mg/dl, Group II consisted of members with body mass index between 20-25 kg/m2 and LDL-C<110 mg/dl. Members in Group I (n = 7) were given apple fruit (Pyrus Malus) twice a day free of charge and were advised unsupervised home-based walking activity for three weeks. Members in Group II (n = 7) were given apple fruit alone. During the period of the study all participants were advised dietary fat restriction and their fasting serum lipid profiles were estimated at 0 and 3 weeks. After 3 weeks of the study period, Group II lowered LDL-C by 18.57 mg/dl (95% confidence interval = 9.05-28.09, p=0.03), so did group I by 38.33 mg/dl (95% confidence interval = 25.62-51.04, p=0.01). Apple supplement combined with dietary advice to reduce fat intake and unsupervised home-based brisk walking program may result in significant reduction in LDL-C level in sedentary individuals. Keywords: apple, brisk walking, dietary restriction, home-based, LDL-C, low-fat, Physical activity, sedentary, unsupervise