X-Message-Number: 30654
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:10:07 -0800 (PST)
From: 
Subject: health benefits of red grape juice

[In humans red grape juice lowers blood pressure, LDL cholesterol,
triglycerides, platelet aggregation, inflammatory biomarkers, oxidative
stress, and further improves endothelial function. In rodents red grape
juice inhibits atherosclerosis more potently than red wine. It is
remarkable that the well documented benefits of red grape juice have been
all but ignored in the popular press. I speculate that daily consumption of
red grape juice might add another 5 to 10 years to human life expectancy,
largely via a more dramatic reduction of cardiovascular disease associated
mortality already noted in red wine drinking French.]

Biofactors. 2004;22(1-4):145-7.
Concord grape juice supplementation reduces blood pressure in Korean
hypertensive men: double-blind, placebo controlled intervention trial.
  Park YK, Kim JS, Kang MH. Department of Medical Nutrition, Kyunghee
University, 1 Hoekidong, Dongdaemoonku, Seoul 130-701, South Korea.
  Many of the flavonoids found in grapes and grape products such as juice or
wine have been known to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, platelet
inhibitory and arterial relaxing effects either in vitro, in animal studies
and in human trials. This study was designed to test the effect of Concord
grape juice consumption on altering blood pressure in hypertensive patients.
Forty subjects were given 5.5 ml/kg body weight/day of either Concord grape
juice (CGJ) or a calorie-matched placebo drink every day for 8 weeks. Blood
pressure (BP) was measured on weeks 0, 4 and 8. Compared to baseline, in the
CGJ group systolic BP was reduced on average by 7.2 mm Hg (p = 0.005) and
diastolic BP was reduced on average by 6.2 mm Hg (p = 0.001) at the end of 8
weeks. Comparable changes in the group getting the placebo product were -3.5
mm Hg (NS) and -3.2 mm Hg (p = 0.05) Consuming Concord grape juice, which is
high in polyphenolic compounds, may favorably affect BP in hypertensive
individuals.
PMID: 15630270

Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Jul;84(1):252-62.
Concentrated red grape juice exerts antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and
antiinflammatory effects in both hemodialysis patients and healthy subjects.
  Castilla P, Echarri R, D valos A, Cerrato F, Ortega H, Teruel JL, Lucas
MF,  G mez-Coronado D, Ortu o J, Lasunci n MA. Servicio de
Bioqu mica-Investigaci n, Hospital Ramon y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
  BACKGROUND: Patients treated with hemodialysis frequently experience
cardiovascular complications attributed, among other causes, to
dyslipidemia, increased oxidative stress, and inflammation. OBJECTIVE: The
aim of the study was to study the effects of dietary supplementation with
concentrated red grape juice (RGJ), a source of polyphenols, on lipoprotein
profile, antioxidant capacity, LDL oxidation, and inflammatory biomarkers.
DESIGN: Twenty-six patients receiving hemodialysis and 15 healthy subjects
were instructed to drink 100 mL RGJ/d for 14 d. Blood was drawn at baseline,
twice during RGJ supplementation, and twice during the 6-mo follow-up
period. As a control, 12 other randomly recruited hemodialysis patients not
receiving RGJ were studied. Lipids, apolipoproteins, oxidized LDL, and
antioxidant vitamins were measured in plasma. The bioavailability of RGJ
polyphenols was assessed in healthy subjects. RESULTS: The maximum plasma
concentration of quercetin was achieved 3 h after RGJ ingestion, which
indicates that supplement-derived polyphenols are rapidly absorbed. In both
healthy subjects and hemodialysis patients, RGJ consumption increased the
antioxidant capacity of plasma without affecting concentrations of uric acid
or ascorbic acid; reduced the concentration of oxidized LDL; and increased
the concentration of cholesterol-standardized alpha-tocopherol. RGJ
supplementation also caused a significant decrease in LDL-cholesterol and
apolipoprotein B-100 concentrations, while increasing the concentrations of
HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I. In a further study in hemodialysis
patients, RGJ supplementation for 3 wk significantly reduced plasma monocyte
chemoattractant protein 1, an inflammatory biomarker associated with
cardiovascular disease risk. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation with
concentrated RGJ improves the lipoprotein profile, reduces plasma
concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers and oxidized LDL, and may favor a
reduction in cardiovascular disease risk.
PMID: 16825703

J Nutr. 2005 Aug;135(8):1911-7.
Grape polyphenols exert a cardioprotective effect in pre- and postmenopausal
women by lowering plasma lipids and reducing oxidative stress.
  Zern TL, Wood RJ, Greene C, West KL, Liu Y, Aggarwal D, Shachter NS,
Fernandez ML. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut,
Storrs,  06269, USA.
  To evaluate the effects of grape polyphenols on plasma lipids,
inflammatory
cytokines, and oxidative stress, 24 pre- and 20 postmenopausal women were
randomly assigned to consume 36 g of a lyophilized grape powder (LGP) or a
placebo for 4 wk. The LGP consisted of 92% carbohydrate and was rich in
flavans, anthocyanins, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, and resveratrol.
After a 3-wk washout period, subjects were assigned to the alternate
treatment for an additional 4 wk. The placebo consisted of an equal ratio of
fructose and dextrose and was similar in appearance and energy content (554
kJ) to LGP. Plasma triglyceride concentrations were reduced by 15 and 6% in
pre- and postmenopausal women, respectively (P < 0.01) after LGP
supplementation. In addition, plasma LDL cholesterol and apolipoproteins B
and E were lower due to LGP treatment (P < 0.05). Further, cholesterol ester
transfer protein activity was decreased by approximately 15% with intake of
LGP (P < 0.05). In contrast to these beneficial effects on plasma lipids,
LDL oxidation was not modified by LGP treatment. However, whole-body
oxidative stress as measured by urinary F(2)-isoprostanes was significantly
reduced after LGP supplementation. LGP also decreased the levels of plasma
tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which plays a major role in the inflammation
process. Through alterations in lipoprotein metabolism, oxidative stress,
and inflammatory markers, LGP intake beneficially affected key risk factors
for coronary heart disease in both pre- and postmenopausal women.
PMID: 16046716

Circulation. 1999 Sep 7;100(10):1050-5.
Purple grape juice improves endothelial function and reduces the
susceptibility of LDL cholesterol to oxidation in patients with coronary
artery disease.
  Stein JH, Keevil JG, Wiebe DA, Aeschlimann S, Folts JD. University of
Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI 53792-3982, USA.
  BACKGROUND: In vitro, the flavonoid components of red wine and purple
grape
juice are powerful antioxidants that induce endothelium-dependent
vasodilation of vascular rings derived from rat aortas and human coronary
arteries. Although improved endothelial function and inhibition of LDL
oxidation may be potential mechanisms by which red wine and flavonoids
reduce cardiovascular risk, the in vivo effects of grape products on
endothelial function and LDL oxidation have not been investigated. This
study assessed the effects of ingesting purple grape juice on endothelial
function and LDL susceptibility to oxidation in patients with coronary
artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen adults with
angiographically documented CAD ingested 7.7+/-1.2 mL. kg(-1). d(-1) of
purple grape juice for 14 days. Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) was
measured using high-resolution brachial artery ultrasonography.
Susceptibility of LDL particles to oxidation was determined from the rate of
conjugated diene formation after exposure to copper chloride. At baseline,
FMD was impaired (2.2+/-2. 9%). After ingestion of grape juice, FMD
increased to 6.4+/-4.7% (P=0.003). In a linear regression model that
included age, artery diameter, lipid values, and use of lipid-lowering and
antioxidant therapies, the effect of grape juice on FMD remained significant
(mean change 4.2+/-4.4%, P<0.001). After ingestion of grape juice, lag time
increased by 34.5% (P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term ingestion of purple
grape juice improves FMD and reduces LDL susceptibility to oxidation in CAD
patients. Improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation and prevention of LDL
oxidation are potential mechanisms by which flavonoids in purple grape
products may prevent cardiovascular events, independent of alcohol content.
PMID: 10477529

J Nutr. 2000 Jan;130(1):53-6.
Grape juice, but not orange juice or grapefruit juice, inhibits human
platelet aggregation.
  Keevil JG, Osman HE, Reed JD, Folts JD. Cardiology Section of Department
of Medicine, University of Wisconsin,  Madison, WI 53792, USA.
  Coronary artery disease is responsible for much mortality and morbidity
around the world. Platelets are involved in atherosclerotic disease
development and the reduction of platelet activity by medications reduces
the incidence and severity of disease. Red wine and grapes contain
polyphenolic compounds, including flavonoids, which can reduce platelet
aggregation and have been associated with lower rates of cardiovascular
disease. Citrus fruits contain different classes of polyphenolics that may
not share the same properties. This study evaluated whether commercial
grape, orange and grapefruit juices, taken daily, reduce ex vivo platelet
activity. In a randomized cross-over design, ten healthy human subjects
(ages 26-58 y, five of each gender) drank 5-7.5 mL/(kg. d) of purple grape
juice, orange juice or grapefruit juice for 7-10 d each. Platelet
aggregation (whole blood impedance aggregometry, Chronolog Model #590) at
baseline was compared to results after consumption of each juice. Drinking
purple grape juice for one week reduced the whole blood platelet aggregation
response to 1 mg/L of collagen by 77% (from 17.9 +/- 2.3 to 4.0 +/- 6.8
ohms, P = 0.0002). Orange juice and grapefruit juice had no effect on
platelet aggregation. The purple grape juice had approximately three times
the total polyphenolic concentration of the citrus juices and was a potent
platelet inhibitor in healthy subjects while the citrus juices showed no
effect. The platelet inhibitory effect of the flavonoids in grape juice may
decrease the risk of coronary thrombosis and myocardial infarction.
PMID: 10613766

Atherosclerosis. 2001 May;156(1):67-72.
Red wine, dealcoholized red wine, and especially grape juice, inhibit
atherosclerosis in a hamster model.
  Vinson JA, Teufel K, Wu N. Department of Chemistry, University of
Scranton, Linden and Monroe Streets,  18510-4626, Scranton, PA, USA
  The French have low coronary heart disease mortality with high fat
consumption; this epidemiological anomaly is known as the "French Paradox"
and is commonly attributed to the consumption of red wine. However,
epidemiology studies have not convincingly shown a superiority of red wine
vs. alcohol or other alcoholic beverages. We have used the hamster model of
atherosclerosis to determine the active ingredient(s) of red wine
responsible for the beneficial effect. Hamsters (nine in each group) were
given a cholesterol/saturated fat for 10 weeks to induce foam cell
formation. Water or 6.75% ethanol was given to the control groups. Beverages
tested included red wine, dealcoholized red wine, and red grape juice, all
diluted in half. Ethanol and all beverages caused a significant reduction in
atherosclerosis. The combination of ethanol in red wine had the largest
effect in decreasing atherosclerosis by both hypolipemic and antioxidant
mechanisms. When compared with dealcoholized wine and normalized to
polyphenol dose, red wine's beneficial effects can be attributed entirely to
the polyphenols. Grape juice had a significant benefit at a much lower dose
of polyphenols than the wines. Grape juice was calculated to be much more
effective than red wine or dealcoholized red wine at the same polyphenol
dose in inhibiting atherosclerosis and improving lipids and antioxidant
parameters. This data suggests that polyphenolic beverages from grapes are
beneficial in inhibiting atherosclerosis by several mechanisms. Grape juice
or non-alcoholic red wine are an excellent alternative to red wine in this
model of atherosclerosis.
PMID: 11368998

Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008 Jan 23 [Epub ahead of print]
Phenolics from purple grape, apple, purple grape juice and apple juice
prevent early atherosclerosis induced by an atherogenic diet in hamsters.
  D cord  K, Teiss dre PL, Auger C, Cristol JP, Rouanet JM. EA 4188
Nutrition Humaine, Biodisponibilit  et Ath rog n se, Universit   Montpellier
1 & 2, Montpellier, France. Fax: +33-04-67143521.
  Knowledge of the effects of processing on the antioxidant properties of
fruits is limited. We investigated the processing of apple (A) and purple
grape (PG) and their juices (AJ and PGJ) in hypercholesterolemic hamsters.
Five groups of eight hamsters each were fed an atherogenic diet for 12 wk.
They received daily by gavage either 7.14 mL/(kg.day) of mashed A or PG, or
the same volume of AJ or PGJ, or water as control. Plasma cholesterol,
non-HDL cholesterol, liver superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase
activities, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were efficiently
reduced by the fruits and their juices compared with controls, whereas
plasma antioxidant capacity was increased and aortic fatty streak area was
decreased from 48 to 93%. For each of these parameters, the efficacy was PGJ
 > PG > AJ > A. The results show for the first time that long-term
consumption of antioxidants supplied by apple and purple grape, especially
phenolic compounds, prevents the development of atherosclerosis in hamsters,
and that processing can have a major impact on the potential health benefits
of a product. The underlying mechanism is related mainly to increased
antioxidant status and improved serum lipid profile.
PMID: 18214852

Atherosclerosis. 2007 Jan;190(1):135-42. Epub 2006 Jun 14.
Concord grape juice attenuates platelet aggregation, serum cholesterol and
development of atheroma in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
  Shanmuganayagam D, Warner TF, Krueger CG, Reed JD, Folts JD. Department of
Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of  Wisconsin,
Madison, WI 53792, United States.
  Intake of Concord grape juice (CGJ), rich in polyphenolics, inhibits
platelet aggregation (PA), a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD),
in normocholesterolemic animals and humans. It is unclear whether CGJ can
attenuate hypercholesterolemia-enhanced PA. The effects of daily CGJ
consumption on hypercholesterolemia-enhanced PA and the development of
atherosclerosis were investigated. Two groups of rabbits (Control and
Treated; n=10 each) were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet for 48 days.
Treated group then received supplemental CGJ (225mL/day) while Control group
received supplemental iso-caloric sugar water for 48 days. Collagen-,
collagen+epinephrine- and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced whole
blood PA responses were measured on Days 0, 48 and 96; total serum
cholesterol and blood pressure were also measured. The development of aortic
atheroma was quantified at the end. Both groups showed significant increases
in PA and serum cholesterol at Day 48. However, at Day 96, Treated group
showed significantly lower PA and development of atheroma (30.7+/-3.9% lower
(p<0.001)) than Control group; Treated group also had significantly lower
total serum cholesterol and blood pressure than Control group. In
conclusion, daily consumption of CGJ attenuates
hypercholesterolemia-enhanced PA, blood pressure, total serum cholesterol
and development of atheroma in rabbits.
PMID: 16780846

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