Selection and evaluation of superior apple genotypes for glycemic control

Abstract

The tremendous apple biodiversity resulted in varying (poly)phenol levels with potential type 2 diabetes (T2D) protective properties. This project screened 476 apple accessions from Canada’s Apple Biodiversity Collection to identify accessions with in vitro anti-diabetic activities. ‘Daux Belan’ (DB), an accession containing high total (poly)phenol content (TPC), was assessed for glucose and lipid metabolism regulation in high fat (HF) diet-induced obese mice. The inhibition of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes and toxic advanced glycation end-product formation (AGEs) are positively correlated with apple TPC in vitro. DB supplementation to mice at 0.15% diet for 18 weeks did not protect against HF diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance, and hypertriglyceridemia. Overall, apple (poly)phenols exhibited promising hypoglycemic activities in vitro by inhibiting carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 enzyme and AGEs. Further research is warranted using cell and pre-clinical animal models to verify the suitability of apple (poly)phenols as a functional food ingredient to manage T2D.