Passionfruit And Heart Health: A Sweet Connection

  • Pankti Shah Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Medical Writer, London, UK
  • Lekhana T Doctor of pharmacy, Dayananda Sagar University, Bengaluru

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Introduction

Diet is one of the important aspects of human health. It is the best source to obtain vitamins, minerals and fibres which are necessary for the well-being of the human body. A large intake of fruits and vegetables is an excellent source of dietary fibre.1

Various studies reported that consumption of fibre is effective in reducing risk of heart disease. Fruit is a powerhouse of nutrients that protect the human body from diseases.2

Passionfruit originates from a certain type of passion flower (Passiflora). It is a small tropical fruit that has hard and inedible skin. It has a yellow, juicy seeded centre that is edible. The most commonly available variety in the UK has brown-purple skin and is a little larger than a golf ball. Another variety which we can also get is the one which is slightly larger and yellow on the outside.3

This fruit has a tart flavour which is sweet and can make a wonderful breakfast bowl, smoothie, salads and desserts.3

It is most commonly grown in tropical and subtropical parts of the world.  It is widely recommended as an abundant source of minerals and vitamins, such as ascorbic acid, phyto-constituents, flavonoids and phenolic compounds.1

Nutritional profile

One passion fruit (approx. 15g) provides:

  • 5kcal/23 KJ
  • 0.4g protein
  • 0.1g fat
  • 0.9g carbohydrate
  • 0.7g fibre
  • 30mg potassium
  • 3mg vitamin C
  • 2mg calcium
  • 4mg magnesium3

Health benefits of passionfruit

  • Rich in protective plant compounds
  • Relieve the symptoms of dry skin
  • Help to maintain blood sugar levels
  • May help protect against cancer
  • May support heart health3 

As discussed above, passionfruit is a rich source of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is reportedly known to improve cardiac functions. Studies show that ascorbic acid supplementation enhances parasympathetic nervous activity and attenuates sympathetic nervous activity. Maintaining regular activities of these systems play a crucial role in the prevention of the cardiovascular pathology and dysfunction, including hypertension, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias and congestive heart failure.1

Studies have shown that consumption of yellow passionfruit for as little as 5 days can decrease systolic blood pressure and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Intake of seed extracts of this fruit for 16 weeks has been reported to improve blood lipids, platelet aggregation and cardiac function in rats with cardiovascular disease.1

Similarly, in a clinical trial carried out in patients with type 2 diabetic subjects, it was noted that there was a reduction in systolic blood pressure and blood glucose upon consumption of purple passion fruit for 16 weeks. Studies have also shown reduction in blood glucose, increased antioxidants and improved lipid profiles. All of these data demonstrate the qualities of passionfruit which exhibit beneficial effects for enhancing cardiac autonomic function and prevention of diabetes mellitus. However, this being said, awareness and education pertaining to medical nutrition therapy is limited and bigger preventive measures and strategies are required to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.1,4

Passionfruit is recommended to be consumed in moderate amounts. It is generally considered safe for most people. It is possible to be allergic to this fruit, and this more likely if one has had latex allergy. But this is a very rare scenario in the case of this fruit.3

There has been a lot of evidence that is conducted in a laboratory setting using isolated compounds in the form of an extract which supports the benefits of passionfruit. As compared to the compounds found in the whole fruit, these extracts are reported to have greater activity. Hence, we can say that passion fruit are low in calories, rich in nutrients and fibre, and high in protective plant compounds, making them a delicious and useful addition in one’s diet.3

Summary

Diet forms one of the major deciding factors of one’s health. Diet consumption that is rich in nutrients and fibre is of utmost importance as far as health is concerned. Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of fibre and various studies have shown the ability of fibre to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Passionfruit is one such fruit which exhibits beneficial cardioprotective properties. It is generally considered safe to eat and reduces systolic blood pressure and maintains blood glucose levels. Those with latex allergy should consume this fruit with caution. More knowledge is required related to medical nutrition therapy to obtain optimum results of reducing the possibility of acquiring cardiovascular diseases.

References

  1. Prasertsri P, Booranasuksakul U, Naravoratham K, Trongtosak P. Acute Effects of Passion Fruit Juice Supplementation on Cardiac Autonomic Function and Blood Glucose in Healthy Subjects. Prev Nutr Food Sci. 2019; 24(3):245–53.
  2. Briffa J, Briffa DJ. Passion fruit. The Guardian [Internet]. 2002 Apr. 28 [cited 2024 Jul 17]; Life and style. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/apr/28/foodanddrink2.
  3. Is passion fruit good for you? Good Food [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jul 17]. Available from: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/health/are-passion-fruits-good-for-you.
  4. Raju IN, Reddy KK, Kumari CK, Reddy EB, Rao SD, Reddy CD, et al. Efficacy of Purple Passion Fruit Peel Extract in Lowering Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2024 Jul 17]; 18(3):183–90. Available from: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2156587213475627

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This content is purely informational and isn’t medical guidance. It shouldn’t replace professional medical counsel. Always consult your physician regarding treatment risks and benefits. See our editorial standards for more details.

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Pankti Shah

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Medical Writer, London, UK

Pankti is a medical writer with several years of diverse experience across clinical research, regulatory affairs and life sciences. She has crafted a wide range of documents including clinical study reports, regulatory submissions and safety reports. She is exploring MedComms to broaden her skills.

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