NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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Pear

Pyrus communis

Fibre-rich fruit linked to lower diabetes risk

Moderate evidence 🍎Fruits

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Moderate
Research weight
Citations
8 verified / 8
Classification
Fruits
❝
What the evidence says. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent.

Nutrition per serving 1 medium (178 g)

178gSERVING
  • Water 149.4 g84%
  • Sugars 17.4 g10%
  • Fibre 5.5 g3%
  • Other carbs 4.2 g2%
  • Protein 0.6 g0%
  • Fat 0.2 g0%
What's in one serving, by weight — average composition (USDA).
Fibre20%Copper16%Vitamin C9%Vitamin K7%Potassium4%Folate3%
One serving as % of the adult daily requirement (FDA Daily Values). The bold outer ring = 100% of a day's needs.
101 kcal0.6 g protein5.5 g fiber0.2 g fat
NutrientPer serving% daily value
Fibre5.5 g20%
Copper0.15 mg16%
Vitamin C7.7 mg9%
Vitamin K7.8 µg7%
Potassium207 mg4%
Folate13 µg3%
Total sugars17 g35%
Calcium16 mg1%

Composition data: USDA FoodData Central ↗

What is Pear?

Pear (Pyrus communis) is a fruit used for supports digestive regularity via soluble and insoluble fibre plus sorbitol. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Moderate. Evidence that pears specifically confer health benefits is moderate and rests mainly on prospective cohort data, where apple/pear consumption is associated with an ~18% lower risk of type 2 diabetes (Guo 2017) and, alongside other anthocyanin-rich fruit, lower diabetes risk (Wedick 2012, HR ~0.77). A systematic review of apples and pears found protective associations for cardiovascular death, type 2 diabetes and all-cause mortality in observational studies, but randomized trials showed limited effects beyond modest BMI reduction (Gayer 2019). Broader meta-analyses of total fruit intake and of dietary fibre—of which pears are a good source—show dose-dependent reductions in cardiovascular disease and mortality (Aune 2017; Reynolds 2019). Pears' fibre and sorbitol content provide a plausible mechanism for digestive and metabolic benefits. Key limits: pears are rarely studied in isolation, observational data cannot prove causation, and confounding by overall healthy diet is likely. The realistic takeaway is that pears are a nutritious, fibre-rich fruit that supports established benefits of whole-fruit diets rather than a standalone intervention.

Purported Benefits

✓Supports digestive regularity via soluble and insoluble fibre plus sorbitol
✓Associated with lower type 2 diabetes risk in pooled cohort data
✓Contributes to fruit intake linked to reduced cardiovascular disease and mortality
✓Low energy density and high water/fibre content aid satiety and weight management
✓Provides fermentable fibre that supports gut microbiota
✓Modest contribution to potassium and vitamin C intake

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
One medium pear (~178 g) provides ~5.5 g fibre, roughly a fifth of the daily target; 1-2 servings/day fit standard "2 fruit a day" guidance. Eat with the skin, where most fibre and polyphenols reside.
Active Compounds
Pectin and cellulose (soluble + insoluble fibre)Sorbitol (sugar alcohol)Fructose and glucoseVitamin C (ascorbic acid)Vitamin K (phylloquinone)PotassiumCopperHydroxycinnamic acids (chlorogenic acid)Flavonols and anthocyanins (skin, esp. red cultivars)

Safety & Cautions

Generally very safe. The sorbitol and fructose content can cause bloating, gas or diarrhoea in people with fructose malabsorption, IBS, or on low-FODMAP diets, and large amounts have a laxative effect. Pears are a relatively high source of fermentable sugars, so portion-aware for those tracking carbohydrate or sugar load. Oral allergy syndrome (cross-reactivity with birch pollen, profilin/PR-10 proteins) can cause itching/swelling in sensitised individuals; pear is also a recognised cause of LTP-mediated allergy in Mediterranean regions. No clinically important grapefruit-type CYP3A4 drug interactions are known. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Pear with any medicine.

Key Studies

Meta-analysis Nutrients 2025 (NDOs) ✓ Full text
Meta-analysis of 20 RCTs (n=1786) of non-digestible oligosaccharides (the class of fermentable carbohydrates abundant in pears) found supplementation significantly increased stool frequency overall, with a large effect in constipated individuals (SMD 0.99, 95% CI 0.58-1.28).
Meta-analysis Xi 2025 ✓ Full text
Meta-analysis of 7 RCTs (187 elderly participants) found dietary fiber supplementation did not significantly improve stool frequency but significantly reduced laxative/enema use and increased fecal bifidobacteria concentration.
Systematic review Wu 2022 ✓ Full text
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 randomized/crossover fruit-intervention studies for functional constipation found fruit intake (kiwifruit and pome fruits such as pear) increased stool frequency and beneficially increased Bifidobacterium, with pome fruit, citrus and berries showing the strongest Bifidobacterium effect.
Meta-analysis Guo 2017 ✓ PubMed
Meta-analysis of 5 prospective cohorts (228,315 participants, 14,120 cases): apple/pear consumption associated with 18% lower type 2 diabetes risk; ~3% per added serving/week.
Systematic review Gayer 2019 ✓ PubMed
Systematic review of 22 studies (7 RCTs, 14 cohorts): in observational data apple/pear intake linked to lower CVD death, T2D and all-cause mortality; in RCTs the only significant effect was modest BMI reduction.
Meta-analysis Aune 2017 ✓ PubMed
Dose-response meta-analysis (95 studies): higher fruit/vegetable intake reduces CVD, cancer and all-cause mortality, with benefit up to ~800 g/day.
Meta-analysis Reynolds 2019 ✓ PubMed
Lancet series of systematic reviews/meta-analyses: high dietary fibre intake (greatest benefit 25-29 g/day) associated with 15-30% lower all-cause and CVD mortality and lower T2D and colorectal cancer.
Cohort Wedick 2012 ✓ PubMed
In 3 large US cohorts, higher intake of anthocyanin-rich fruit including apples/pears linked to lower type 2 diabetes risk (apples/pears HR ~0.77; total anthocyanins HR 0.85).
8 sources cited · 8 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Pear

What is Pear used for?

Pear is most often taken for Supports digestive regularity via soluble and insoluble fibre plus sorbitol, Associated with lower type 2 diabetes risk in pooled cohort data, Contributes to fruit intake linked to reduced cardiovascular disease and mortality, Low energy density and high water/fibre content aid satiety and weight management. Fibre-rich fruit linked to lower diabetes risk

Does Pear work — what does the evidence say?

Moderate evidence. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent. Evidence that pears specifically confer health benefits is moderate and rests mainly on prospective cohort data, where apple/pear consumption is associated with an ~18% lower risk of type 2 diabetes (Guo 2017) and, alongside other anthocyanin-rich fruit, lower diabetes risk (Wedick 2012, HR ~0.77). A systematic review of apples and pears found protective associations for cardiovascular death, type 2 diabetes and all-cause mortality in observational studies, but randomized trials showed limited effects beyond modest BMI reduction (Gayer 2019). Broader meta-analyses of total fruit intake and of dietary fibre—of which pears are a good source—show dose-dependent reductions in cardiovascular disease and mortality (Aune 2017; Reynolds 2019). Pears' fibre and sorbitol content provide a plausible mechanism for digestive and metabolic benefits. Key limits: pears are rarely studied in isolation, observational data cannot prove causation, and confounding by overall healthy diet is likely. The realistic takeaway is that pears are a nutritious, fibre-rich fruit that supports established benefits of whole-fruit diets rather than a standalone intervention.

What is the typical dose of Pear?

One medium pear (~178 g) provides ~5.5 g fibre, roughly a fifth of the daily target; 1-2 servings/day fit standard "2 fruit a day" guidance. Eat with the skin, where most fibre and polyphenols reside.

Is Pear safe? Any cautions or side effects?

Generally very safe. The sorbitol and fructose content can cause bloating, gas or diarrhoea in people with fructose malabsorption, IBS, or on low-FODMAP diets, and large amounts have a laxative effect. Pears are a relatively high source of fermentable sugars, so portion-aware for those tracking carbohydrate or sugar load. Oral allergy syndrome (cross-reactivity with birch pollen, profilin/PR-10 proteins) can cause itching/swelling in sensitised individuals; pear is also a recognised cause of LTP-mediated allergy in Mediterranean regions. No clinically important grapefruit-type CYP3A4 drug interactions are known.

How many studies support Pear?

NutriDex cites 8 sources for Pear, graded "Moderate".

Cite this page
APA

Peh, D. (2026). Pear (Pyrus communis): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 26 Jun 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/pear

BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_pear,
  author       = {Peh, Daryl},
  title        = {Pear (Pyrus communis): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
  url          = {https://nutridex.info/s/pear},
  note         = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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