Aim: 

Food is a complex mixture of macro and micronutrients interacting to produce specific metabolic and inflammatory responses relevant to health status. We hypothesized that fruit meals provide measurable amounts of the anti-inflammatory compounds salicylic (SA) and ferulic acids (FA) and produce different metabolic, endocrine and inflammatory responses compared to the bare fruit macronutrients.

Methods: 

26 healthy young post-absorptive subjects (13M/13F) received 2 meals: peach pulp (0.7 g/kg, 0,94 % fructose, 0,85 % glucose and 7,67% sucrose) and a watery isoglucidic solution (MIX). In the following 3h we measured circulating SA, FA, glucose, insulin, lipid, adiponectin, CRP and Interleukine-6 (IL-6) concentrations.

Results: 

Basal SA concentrations (0.17±0.03 mmol/L) doubled by 0.5h and peaked at 0,25±0,03 mmol/L at 1.5h after the fruit meal. Basal FA (26,63±3,67 nmol/L) peaked at 0.5h (35,50±7,13 nmol/L) and 1.5h (36,58±3,98 nmol/L) and decreased thereafter. SA and FA concentrations were unchanged after mix. Glucose increased less rapidly with fruit than MIX (+11±1 vs +33±5 mg/dL at 0.25h, p<0.01) and showed a similar profile thereafter. Free fatty acids were more suppressed after fruit (p<0.001). IL-6 increased after both meals (p<0.01) tendentially more with MIX.

Conclusion: 

SA and FA are normal human serum components provided in measurable amounts by fruit consumption. Components different from the bare macronutrients modulate the metabolic and inflammatory responses to fruit ingestion.