Effect of pineapple (Ananas comosus) juice containing flesh and core on serum total cholesterol in overweight and obese working women: a quasi-experimental study

Nadia Rachmawati Ciptaningtyas* -  Master of Nutrition Science, Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia
Nurul Muslihah -  Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia
Irma Sarita Rahmawati -  Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Brawijaya, Indonesia
DOI : 10.30867/action.v11i3.3092

Obesity among Indonesian adults is increasing, with a higher prevalence in women than in men, contributing to elevated total cholesterol levels and cardiometabolic risk. Working women may also experience greater stress, which can adversely affect cholesterol levels through hormonal responses and unhealthy eating habits. Pineapple contains bromelain and dietary fiber that may support cholesterol control, with bromelain occurring in greater amounts in the core than in the flesh of the fruit. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pineapple juice prepared from both the flesh and core on total cholesterol levels in working women. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-posttest study was conducted among 34 working female employees at Great Giant Food. The participants received the assigned intervention for 14 days at a dose equivalent to 142 g/70 kg body weight. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for within-group comparisons and independent t-tests or Mann–Whitney U tests for between-group comparisons. The change in total cholesterol levels differed significantly between the groups (p = 0.041). However, within-group changes were not significant in either the control (p = 0.053) or intervention group (p = 0.268). In conclusion, pineapple juice containing both flesh and core may favorably influence total cholesterol levels; however, the absence of significant within-group changes indicates that the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

Keywords : Bromelain, pineapple juice, total cholesterol, working women

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