Home Ingredients AppleActiv® (Dried Apple Peel Polyphenols — Leahy Orchards)
Antioxidant

AppleActiv® (Dried Apple Peel Polyphenols — Leahy Orchards)

Malus domestica
Evidence Level
Preliminary
2 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

AppleActiv® is a dried apple peel powder (DAPP) from Leahy Orchards. It is a whole food powder made by drying and grinding the peel, not a concentrated polyphenol extract, so a serving is measured in grams rather than milligrams. Lab work shows that carefully dried apple peel keeps most of its phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The one study of this product was a 12 week open label pilot in 12 healthy adults with reduced joint range of motion and chronic pain: 4.25 g a day was followed by better range of motion, lower pain scores and better serum antioxidant protection in a blood test. There was no placebo group, and the study was sponsored by the head of Leahy Orchards. The other human trials cited here fed whole Gala apples to adults with overweight and obesity and found lower inflammatory markers, which is evidence for apples as food rather than for this powder.

Studied Dose 4.25 g a day for 12 weeks in the one open label study of this dried apple peel powder. The whole apple trials used 3 Gala apples (about 200 g) a day.
Active Compound Dried apple peel powder (whole peel, not an extract), which carries the peel's polyphenols, flavonoids and fiber.

Benefits

Serum antioxidant protection

In a 12 week open label study of 12 healthy adults, 4.25 g a day of dried apple peel powder was followed by a significant improvement in a blood test of antioxidant protection. In a separate 6 week trial, eating 3 whole apples a day raised total antioxidant capacity in an exploratory analysis. There was no placebo group in the powder study.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Joint range of motion and comfort

In the same open label study, 12 adults with reduced joint range of motion and chronic pain took 4.25 g a day for 12 weeks. Range of motion improved and pain scores fell from baseline. With no placebo group, 12 people and sponsorship by the head of Leahy Orchards, this is an early signal rather than proof.

Supported by Trial 1

Inflammatory markers

In a 6 week trial in adults with overweight and obesity, eating 3 whole Gala apples a day lowered C-reactive protein and IL-6 versus avoiding apples. Lab tests show dried apple peel powder blocks COX-2 and lipoxygenase. No trial has measured inflammatory markers in people taking the powder.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Polyphenol antioxidant action

Dried apple peel powder protected cells from oxidative damage in a lab assay and lowered reactive oxygen species made by inflammatory white blood cells in the test tube.

2

Inflammatory enzyme activity

In lab tests dried apple peel powder inhibited COX-2 and lipoxygenase, two enzymes that produce inflammatory signals. This is the proposed basis for the joint comfort findings and has not been confirmed in a controlled human trial.

Clinical trials

1
Dried Apple Peel Powder and Joint Function, 12 Adults
PubMed

Open label 12 week pilot study of 4.25 g a day of Leahy dried apple peel powder (sold as AppleActiv), with visits at baseline and weeks 2, 4, 8 and 12. Sponsored by the CEO of Leahy Orchards. (Jensen et al. 2014, J Med Food)

12 healthy adults with moderate loss of joint range of motion and chronic pain.

Range of motion measured by digital inclinometry improved, pain scores fell significantly from week 4 onward, and serum antioxidant protection improved significantly. There was no placebo or control group, so these are before and after changes only.

2
Whole Apples and Inflammatory Markers, 46 Adults
PubMed

Randomized, controlled, parallel arm 6 week trial: 3 whole Gala apples a day versus avoiding apples. Whole apples, not this powder. (Liddle et al. 2021, Am J Clin Nutr)

46 adults with overweight and obesity; 44 completed.

Apples lowered C-reactive protein by 17.0%, IL-6 by 12.4% and LPS binding protein by 20.7% versus control, and raised total antioxidant capacity by 9.6% in an exploratory analysis. Body measurements and other heart risk markers did not change.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated as a food-derived ingredient.
Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported.
Avoid if you have an apple allergy.

Important Drug interactions

No major drug interactions are established for this ingredient.
Tell your doctor about all supplements if you take prescription medication.
Use caution if pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a health condition.

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Frequently asked questions about AppleActiv® (Dried Apple Peel Polyphenols — Leahy Orchards)

What is AppleActiv?

AppleActiv® is a dried apple peel powder (DAPP) from Leahy Orchards. It is a whole food powder made by drying and grinding the peel, not a concentrated polyphenol extract, so a serving is measured in grams rather than milligrams.

What is AppleActiv used for?

AppleActiv is researched primarily for Antioxidant. In a 12 week open label study of 12 healthy adults, 4.25 g a day of dried apple peel powder was followed by a significant improvement in a blood test of antioxidant protection.

What is the recommended dosage of AppleActiv?

The clinically studied dose is 4.25 g a day for 12 weeks in the one open label study of this dried apple peel powder. The whole apple trials used 3 Gala apples (about 200 g) a day. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is AppleActiv safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for AppleActiv include: Generally well-tolerated as a food-derived ingredient. Mild digestive upset is occasionally reported. It may also interact with some medications. AppleActiv is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does AppleActiv interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: No major drug interactions are established for this ingredient. Tell your doctor about all supplements if you take prescription medication. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for AppleActiv?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for AppleActiv as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 2 study summaries and 5 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(5 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Liddle DM, Lin X, Cox LC, Ward EM, Ansari R, Wright AJ, Robinson LE. Daily apple consumption reduces plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell-secreted inflammatory biomarkers in adults with overweight and obesity: a 6-week randomized, controlled, parallel-arm trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;114(2):752-763. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab094.PubMedUsed to support: 6 week randomized, controlled trial in 46 adults with overweight and obesity: 3 whole Gala apples a day lowered C-reactive protein, IL-6 and LPS binding protein versus avoiding apples and raised total antioxidant capacity in an exploratory analysis. The exposure was whole apples, not AppleActiv, and no joint outcome was measured.
  2. Liddle DM, Lin X, Ward EM, Cox LC, Wright AJ, Robinson LE. Apple consumption reduces markers of postprandial inflammation following a high fat meal in overweight and obese adults: A randomized, crossover trial. Food Funct. 2021;12(14):6348-6362. doi: 10.1039/d1fo00392e.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized crossover trial in 26 adults with overweight and obesity: eating 3 whole Gala apples with a high fat meal reduced markers of inflammation over the following 6 hours. Whole apples rather than peel powder, and no joint outcome was measured.
  3. Girotto OS, Furlan OO, Moretti Junior RC, Goulart RA, Baldi Junior E, Barbalho-Lamas C, Fornari Laurindo L, Barbalho SM. Effects of apples (Malus domestica) and their derivatives on metabolic conditions related to inflammation and oxidative stress and an overview of by-products use in food processing. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2025;65(19):3785-3816. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2024.2372690.PubMedUsed to support: Review of 33 studies of apples and apple products in metabolic conditions related to inflammation and oxidative stress, plus uses of apple by-products in food. Background on apples in general; it does not test AppleActiv.
  4. Jensen GS, Attridge VL, Benson KF, Beaman JL, Carter SG, Ager D. Consumption of dried apple peel powder increases joint function and range of motion. J Med Food. 2014;17(11):1204-13. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2014.0037.PubMedUsed to support: Open label 12 week pilot in 12 healthy adults with reduced joint range of motion and chronic pain: 4.25 g a day of Leahy dried apple peel powder (sold as AppleActiv) was followed by better range of motion, lower pain scores and improved serum antioxidant protection. In lab tests the powder inhibited COX-2 and lipoxygenase. No placebo group; sponsored by the CEO of Leahy Orchards.
  5. Wolfe KL, Liu RH. Apple peels as a value-added food ingredient. J Agric Food Chem. 2003;51(6):1676-83. doi: 10.1021/jf025916z.PubMedUsed to support: Lab study showing that blanched, freeze dried apple peel powder kept phenolic and flavonoid levels similar to fresh peel and had high antioxidant activity in lab assays. Not a human study.