Know2eat

Apricots

Prunus armeniaca

What apricots has been studied for

2 associations assessed — none with dependable human evidence behind them yet. Strongest first.

  • 2 Insufficient
3 things to know first — allergies, interactions and intake limits

About apricots

A small orange stone fruit of the Rosaceae family, closely related to plums and peaches. The USDA entry here is fresh raw fruit; dried apricots are a different food with a much higher sugar concentration and, usually, added sulphites.

Also known as Apricot, Armenian plum

Gut & Digestive HealthEye Health

The evidence in depth

Best supported: Insufficient

What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how impressive the food is. How we rate evidence.

Bowel regularity

Gut & Digestive Health
Insufficient evidence

Evidence is limited and comes mostly from dried apricots rather than fresh. Small trials of dried apricot in constipation report improved stool frequency, which is consistent with their fibre and sorbitol content but rests on very few studies.

Insufficient evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

No source is attached to this association yet, so it is rated insufficient by default. It is listed because people commonly ask about it — not because there is evidence for it.

Macular health

Eye Health
Insufficient evidence

Apricots contain provitamin A carotenoids, and carotenoid intake as a whole has been studied in relation to eye health. Human research on apricots specifically and any macular outcome has not been done, so nothing can be concluded about this fruit.

Insufficient evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

No source is attached to this association yet, so it is rated insufficient by default. It is listed because people commonly ask about it — not because there is evidence for it.

Ask about Apricots

Ask about Apricots

Answers are written only from the entries on this page — the same nutrients, compounds, claims and citations you can read above. Nothing is added from outside the database, and every answer lists what it was built from.

AI explanations are not switched on for this site, so there is nothing to ask here. Everything above is read straight from the database and does not need them.

Key nutrients

Nutrient content per 100 grams
NutrientAmount% DV
Macronutrients
Calories48 kcal2%
Protein1.4 g3%
Total fat0.39 g1%
Carbohydrate11.1 g4%
Fibre2 g7%
Total sugars9.24 g—
Water86.3 g—
Fats
Saturated fat0.027 g0%
Monounsaturated fat0.17 g—
Polyunsaturated fat0.077 g—
Cholesterol0 mg0%
EPA (omega-3)0 g—
DHA (omega-3)0 g—
DPA (omega-3)0 g—
Linoleic acid (omega-6)0.077 g—
Vitamins
Vitamin A96 µg11%
Vitamin C10 mg11%
Vitamin D0 µg0%
Vitamin E0.89 mg6%
Vitamin K3.3 µg3%
Thiamin (B1)0.03 mg3%
Riboflavin (B2)0.04 mg3%
Niacin (B3)0.6 mg4%
Pantothenic acid (B5)0.24 mg5%
Vitamin B60.054 mg3%
Folate9 µg2%
Vitamin B120 µg0%
Choline2.8 mg1%
Minerals
Calcium13 mg1%
Iron0.39 mg2%
Magnesium10 mg2%
Phosphorus23 mg2%
Potassium259 mg6%
Sodium1 mg0%
Zinc0.2 mg2%
Copper0.078 mg9%
Manganese0.077 mg3%
Selenium0.1 µg0%
Other measured compounds
Beta-carotene1094 µg—
Alpha-carotene19 µg—
Lycopene0 µg—
Lutein + zeaxanthin89 µg—
Caffeine0 mg—
Ash0.75 g—

Nutrient values are per 100 g of the USDA reference entry named on this page and vary with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

Source record: Apricots, raw (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 171697).

% DV uses the FDA Daily Values for adults and children aged 4 and over. A dash means no Daily Value has been established for that nutrient.

Bioactive compounds

Compounds present in meaningful amounts. Presence is banded rather than quantified, because whole-food levels vary enormously with variety, growing conditions, storage and preparation.

How preparation changes things

Only effects with real support are listed. If a preparation method is missing, it is because nothing dependable is documented — not because it makes no difference.

  • driedReduces vitamin C

    Drying removes most of the vitamin C while concentrating sugars and carotenoids by weight. Commercial dried apricots are also commonly sulphited to keep the colour, which matters to people with sulphite sensitivity.

Things to know

Allergies, interactions and intake concerns. Every food gets this section — a reference where everything is uniformly good is not a reference.

  • Allergy

    Birch-pollen oral allergy syndrome

    Apricot is a Rosaceae stone fruit and cross-reacts strongly with birch pollen through the Bet v 1 homologue. Itching or swelling of the lips, tongue and throat within minutes of eating raw fruit is the usual pattern; cooked fruit is often tolerated.

  • Avoid

    Apricot kernels contain amygdalin

    The seed inside the stone is not food. It carries amygdalin, which releases hydrogen cyanide during digestion, and confirmed poisonings have followed the deliberate eating of kernels sold as a health product. Several national regulators have issued intake warnings.

  • Too much

    Sorbitol load in large portions

    Stone fruits carry sorbitol, a poorly absorbed sugar alcohol. People with irritable bowel syndrome frequently report wind, cramping or loose stools once the portion goes past a couple of fruits.