PurposeTo describe the nutritional and health attributes of kiwifruit and the benefits relating to improved nutritional status, digestive, immune and metabolic health. The review includes a brief history of green and gold varieties of kiwifruit from an ornamental curiosity from China in the 19th century to a crop of international economic importance in the 21st century; comparative data on their nutritional composition, particularly the high and distinctive amount of vitamin C; and an update on the latest available scientific evidence from well-designed and executed human studies on the multiple beneficial physiological effects.Of particular interest are the digestive benefits for healthy individuals as well as for those with constipation and other gastrointestinal disorders, including symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. The mechanisms of action behind the gastrointestinal effects, such as changes in faecal (stool) consistency, decrease in transit time and reduction of abdominal discomfort, relate to the water retention capacity of kiwifruit fibre, favourable changes in the human colonic microbial community and primary metabolites, as well as the naturally present proteolytic enzyme actinidin, which aids protein digestion both in the stomach and the small intestine. The effects of kiwifruit on metabolic markers of cardiovascular disease and diabetes are also investigated, including studies on glucose and insulin balance, bodyweight maintenance and energy homeostasis.ConclusionsThe increased research data and growing consumer awareness of the health benefits of kiwifruit provide logical motivation for their regular consumption as part of a balanced diet. Kiwifruit should be considered as part of a natural and effective dietary strategy to tackle some of the major health and wellness concerns around the world.
The nutritional and health attributes of kiwifruit: a review
D. Richardson,J. Ansell,Lynley N. Drummond
Published 2018 in European Journal of Nutrition
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2018
- Venue
European Journal of Nutrition
- Publication date
2018-02-22
- Fields of study
Agricultural and Food Sciences, Medicine, Biology
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- actinidin
A proteolytic enzyme naturally present in kiwifruit that helps break down proteins.
- constipation
A bowel habit disorder characterized by infrequent or difficult stool passage, used here as a target condition for kiwifruit effects.
- digestive health
The gastrointestinal function and comfort outcomes discussed in relation to kiwifruit consumption.
Aliases: gastrointestinal health, gut health
- human colonic microbial community
The community of microorganisms resident in the human colon that is considered here as a mediator of gastrointestinal effects.
Aliases: colonic microbiome, human gut microbiota
- irritable bowel syndrome
A functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits.
Aliases: IBS
- kiwifruit
An edible fruit crop from Actinidia species that is discussed here in green and gold varieties.
Aliases: kiwi fruit, green kiwifruit, gold kiwifruit, green and gold varieties
- metabolic markers of cardiovascular disease and diabetes
Blood and physiological measures such as glucose, insulin, bodyweight, and energy balance used to assess cardiometabolic status.
Aliases: cardiometabolic markers, metabolic markers
- vitamin c
An essential water-soluble vitamin used here as a key nutritional component of kiwifruit.
Aliases: ascorbic acid