Several epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of fruits and vegetables containing phenolic compounds and dietary fiber can help to prevent obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Granny Smith apple consumption on high fat induced obesity. Sprague Dawley rats were fed with four isocaloric diets: high fat diet containing 60% of calories from fat (HF) or HF supplemented freeze dried Granny Smith apple (HFA); low fat diet containing 10% of calories from fat (LF) or LF supplemented apple (LFA). Apple supplementation contributed with 6.8% calories to HFA and LFA diets. Results showed that all the experimental groups consumed similar amount of food every day. Apple supplementation in HFA did not prevent body weight gain in HF (235 ± 34.2 g) compared HFA (224 ± 35.6 g). However, adiposity index (AI) (4.3 ± 2.4 %; 5.6 ± 2.60 %), glucose tolerance test area under the curve after glucose administration (12660 ± 388; 13674 ± 459), plasma glucose level (6.3 ± 0.7 mmol/L; 7.0 ± 1.0 mmol/L), LDL-oxidation (144 ± 3.3 [mu]M malondialdehyde (MDA); 150 ± 6.8 [mu]M MDA), reaction oxygen species (5680 ± 717 RFU; 6060 ± 626 RFU), adipokine leptin (1760 ± 332 pg/mL; 2400 ± 317 pg/mL), adipokine insulin (2180 ± 464 pg/mL; 2979 ± 548 pg/mL); adipokine MCP-1 (197 ± 27 pg/mL; 284 ± 41 pg/mL), liver cholesterol (3.7 ± 0.4 mg/g liver; 4.0 ± 0.4 mg/g liver) tended to decrease in the HFA compared to the HF, respectively (p >0.05). Moreover, apple supplementation in HFA significantly decreased the levels of plasma triglyceride (3.0 ± 0.4 mmol/L; 6.3 ± 0.7 mmol/L), plasma LPS (1.0 ± 0.2 EU/ml; 2.2 ± 0.3 EU/ml), and adipocyte size (3990 ± 1930 [mu]m2 ; 8690 ± 2570 [mu]m2) compared to the HF, respectively (P <0.05). Overall, these results demonstrate that the Granny Smith apple cultivars may help to prevent metabolic disorders related to obesity from human when consumed approx. two and half apples/day for high fat diet
