An apple a day doesn't seem to keep the doctor away

Is nothing sacred? American researchers say they have found that an apple a day does not keep the doctor away.

An analysis led by University of Michigan assistant professor Matthew Davis tested the relationship between eating an apple a day and keeping the doctor away.

The primary outcome measure was success at “keeping the doctor away,” measured as no more than 1 visit (self-reported) to a physician during the past year; secondary outcomes included successful avoidance of other health care services (ie, no overnight hospital stays, visits to a mental health professional, or prescription medications).

Of 8399 eligible study participants who completed the dietary recall questionnaire, we identified 753 adult apple eaters (9.0%)—those who typically consume at least 1 small apple per day. Compared with the 7646 non–apple eaters (91.0%), apple eaters had higher educational attainment, were more likely to be from a racial or ethnic minority, and were less likely to smoke ... . Apple eaters were more likely, in the crude analysis, to keep the doctor (and prescription medications) away: 39.0% of apple eaters avoided physician visits vs 33.9% of non–apple eaters .... After adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics, however, the association was no longer statistically significant, ... In the adjusted analysis, apple eaters also remained marginally more successful at avoiding prescription medications. ... There were no differences seen in overnight hospital stay or mental health visits. 

Conclusions and Relevance Evidence does not support that an apple a day keeps the doctor away; however, the small fraction of US adults who eat an apple a day do appear to use fewer prescription medications.