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Apple-a-day found to decrease prescription medication usage

Daily apple consumption among adults is linked to lower use of prescription drugs, compared with adults who do not eat apples, according to a recently published study.

“Our findings suggest that the promotion of apple consumption may have limited benefit in reducing national health care spending. In the age of evidence-based assertions, however, there may be a merit to saying ‘An apple a day keeps the pharmacist away,’” Matthew A. Davis, DC, MPH, PhD, of the University of Michigan School of Nursing, and colleagues wrote.

Researchers evaluated data from the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Study to assess the link between apple consumption and doctor visits. Apple eaters were defined as consuming one or more small apple daily.

Among study participants (n = 8,399), 9% were identified as apple eaters. Apple eaters had higher educational attainment (P < .001), were more likely to be a racial or ethnic minority (P < .001) and were less likely to smoke (P < .001), compared with non-apple eaters.

When adjusting for sociodemographic factors, there was no link between apple consumption and health care service visits. However, a marginally significant association was found between apple consumption and avoiding prescription medications (OR = 1.27; 95% CI, 1-1.63).

“Perhaps not surprisingly, many widely accepted proverbs promote healthy lifestyle choices. Rigorously evaluating the clues handed down in these aphorisms — to wit ‘Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”— may provide important answers for improving population health and reducing health care expenditures in the future,” Davis and colleagues wrote.

Rita F. Redberg

JAMA Internal Medicine Editor-in-Chief, Rita F. Redberg, MD, of the University of California, said in a related editor’s note, “Although we take seriously the statement ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away,’ (and the importance of a good parachute), these articles launch our first April Fool’s issue. At least once per year, and more is likely better (but needs to be tested), laughter is the best medicine.” – by Casey Hower

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.