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Links between eating apples and reduced frailty

A new research study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has found that a diet containing the flavonoid quercetin is associated with lower chances of developing frailty in our 60s.

Frailty describes how our bodies gradually lose their in-built reserves, leaving us more vulnerable to falls, disability, admission to hospital, or the need for long-term care.

The new study found that higher quercetin intake had the strongest association with frailty prevention. A total of 1,701 over-65s took part in the study, which resulted in 13.2 per cent of participants becoming frail by the end of the 12-year project. However, each 10mg per day higher quercetin intake was associated with 35% lower odds of frailty onset. 

Apples with a red skin are a particularly good source of quercetin - they contain around 3.7–3.9mg per 100g. A medium apple is about 150g, so just one apple a day will get you very close to the 10mg of quercetin that was associated with lower odds of frailty in the US study.

This study is one more excellent reason why we should all be eating a whole apple a day. For more health information, visit our health hub.

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Media coverage for this news included:

• The Telegraph