Apple peels and pulp as a source of bioactive compounds and their influence on digestibility and lipid profile in normal and atherogenic rats

Golden delicious apples were separated for peels and pulp, dietary fibre content and some bioactive compounds were determined. Rats were fed a semipurified or LSM diet with or without the addition of cholesterol and 5% of apple peels or pulp, feed, and digestibility and lipid profiles in plasma were estimated. Apple peels were a better source of dietary fibre and bioactive compounds that had an influence on its TRAP value than apple pulp. Freeze-dried apple peels and pulp decreased protein digestibility but significantly affected the plasma lipid profile, expressed by a lowering of total cholesterol and LDL-C fraction contents only in rats fed a diet with cholesterol were noted. The high content of biologically active compounds in apples makes it preferable for dietary prevention of atherosclerosis and other diseases.