Green, Red, Black Grapes Reduce Risk for Senior
Problems of Heart Disease, Diabetes
Grapes lowered blood
pressure, improved heart function and reduced risk factors for metabolic syndrome;
second study shows how to increase phytonutrients by food choice
April 26, 2010 Could eating grapes slow what's
for many aging Americans a downhill sequence of high blood pressure and
insulin resistance leading to heart disease and type 2 diabetes?
Scientists at the University of Michigan Health System are finding the
answer is yes and its due to the effects of phytochemicals. This is
one of two new studies praising phytochemicals in grapes and other
friuits.
Phytochemicals, sometimes called phytonutrient, are
naturally occurring antioxidants that grapes contain - the most often
associated with grapes being resveratrol. Polyphenols, also often
mentioned as health enhancers in grapes, are an antioxidant
phytochemical (as chlorogenic acid) that tends to prevent or neutralize
the damaging effects of free radicals.
(See second study below this report on how to
choose the right foods for better phytochemical intake.)
Findings from this new animal study were presented
today at the Experimental Biology convention in Anaheim, California.
They show encouraging results of a grape-enriched diet preventing risk
factors for metabolic syndrome, a condition affecting an estimated 50
million Americans and is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
Researchers studied the effect of regular table
grapes (a blend of green, red and black grapes) that were mixed into a
powdered form and integrated into the diets of laboratory rats as part
of a high-fat, American style diet. All of the rats used were from a
research breed that is prone to being overweight.
They performed many comparisons between the rats
consuming a grape-enriched diet and the control rats receiving no grape
powder. Researchers added calories and sugars to the control group to
balance the extra calories and sugars gained from getting the grape
powder.
After three months, the rats that received the
grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, and
reduced indicators of inflammation in the heart and the blood than rats
who received no grape powder. Rats also had lower triglycerides and
improved glucose tolerance.
The effects were seen even though the grape-fed
animals had no change in body weight.
In all, researchers say the study demonstrates that
a grape-enriched diet can have broad effects on the development of heart
disease and metabolic syndrome and the risk factors that go along with
it.
"The possible reasoning behind the lessening of
metabolic syndrome is that the phytochemicals were active in protecting
the heart cells from the damaging effects of metabolic syndrome. In the
rats, inflammation of the heart and heart function was maintained far
better," says Steven Bolling, M.D., heart surgeon at the U-M
Cardiovascular Center and head of the U-M Cardioprotection Research
Laboratory.
The researchers also looked for signs of
inflammation, oxidative damage and other molecular indicators of cardiac
stress. Again, the rats who consumed the grape powder had lower levels
of these markers than rats who did not receive grapes.
There is no well-accepted way to diagnose metabolic
syndrome which is really a cluster of characteristics: excess belly fat
(for men, a waist measuring 40 inches or more; for women, a waist
measuring 35 inches or more); high triglycerides which can lead to
plague build-up in the artery walls; high blood pressure; reduced
glucose tolerance; and elevated c-reactive protein, a marker for
inflammation in the body.
How is
red wine heart healthy? By Mayo Clinic staff
The studies supporting red
wine suggest antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols help
protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. These
antioxidants come in two main forms: flavonoids and
nonflavonoids.
Flavonoids.
These antioxidants are found in a variety of foods, including
oranges, grape juice, apples, onions, tea and cocoa. Other types
of alcohol, such as white wine and beer, contain small amounts,
too, but red wine has higher levels.
Nonflavonoids.
These antioxidants found in red wine have recently been of
particular interest because they appear to help prevent arteries
from becoming clogged with fatty blockages. However, these
studies mostly involved mice not humans.
Resveratrol is the nonflavonoid that's received
the most attention from researchers.
Those with metabolic syndrome are at higher risk
for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
But the U-M study suggests that it may be possible
that grape consumption can change the downhill sequence that leads to
heart disease by prolonging the time between when symptoms begin to
occur and a time of diagnosis.
"Reducing these risk factors may delay the onset of
diabetes or heart disease, or lessen the severity of the diseases," says
E. Mitchell Seymour, Ph.D., lead researcher and manager of the U-M
Cardioprotection Research Laboratory. "Ultimately it may lessen the
health burden of these increasingly common conditions."
Rats were fed the same weight of food each day,
with powered grapes making up 3 percent of the diet. Although the
current study was supported in part by the California Table Grape
Commission, which also supplied the grape powder, the researchers note
that the commission played no role in the study's design, conduct,
analysis or preparation of the presentation.
Research on grapes and other fruits containing high
levels of antioxidant phytochemicals continues to show promise. U-M will
further its research this summer when it begins a clinical trial to test
the impact of grape product consumption on heart risk factors.
"Although there's not a particular direct
correlation between this study and what humans should do, it's very
interesting to postulate that a diet higher in phytochemical-rich
fruits, such as grapes, may benefit humans," Bolling says.
Bolling says that people who want to lower their
blood pressure, reduce their risk of diabetes or help with weakened
hearts retain as much pumping power as possible should follow some
tried-and-true advice to eat a healthy diet low in saturated fat, trans
fat and cholesterol, achieve a desirable weight and increase physical
activity.
Heart Health Increased by Choosing Grapes, Other
Fruits and Veggies with Highest Phytonutrient Content
Another
study presented yesterday shows that topping that bowl of cereal with
grapes instead of strawberries, or saut้ing kale instead of spinach for
dinner can boost phytonutrient intake, which may help decrease risk for
certain chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and
diabetes.
A study, supported by the Nutrilite Health
Institute and presented at the Experimental Biology Meeting, April 25,
in Anaheim, California, found that despite the availability of a wide
range of foods that contain phytonutrients, many Americans are getting
phytonutrients from a relatively small number of specific foods, which
are not necessarily the most concentrated sources.
Top
food contributors for several key phytonutrient families in the diet
include oranges, orange juice, carrots, grapes, garlic, tomatoes,
strawberries, prepared mustard, tea and various soy products, according
to the study.
"Americans could improve their phytonutrient intake
by choosing to eat more concentrated sources of phytonutrients as well
as a wider variety," said Keith Randolph, Ph.D., Technology Strategist
for Nutrilite.
"For example, grapes are the top contributor of the
phytonutrient family of anthocyanidins in most Americans' diets, but
blueberries actually contain higher amounts of this phytonutrient.
Research suggests anthocyanidins support heart health," Randolph added.
Phytonutrients are compounds that naturally occur
in plants and provide a range of potential health benefits from
promoting eye, bone and heart health to supporting immune and brain
function. It's widely believed that the health benefits that
phytonutrients may offer come from the pigments in fruits and vegetables
that give these foods their vibrant reds, yellows, greens and other rich
colors. Certain fruits and vegetables contain higher levels of these
compounds, making them more concentrated and potentially more effective
sources of phytonutrients.
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senior citizens and baby boomers and many are reaching for foods high in
antioxidants.
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The two groups analyzed in the study include adults
who eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, as compared to
adults who fail to meet U.S. government guidelines on fruit and
vegetable consumption based on two days of intake.
Findings suggested that for most phytonutrients,
there is little difference in the relative contributions of
phytonutrients by food source between groups, although those who meet
the recommended five to 13 servings per day were shown to consume
greater quantities of certain phytonutrient-rich foods.
One key finding of the study concluded that, on
average, Americans who consume the recommended amount of fruits and
vegetables generally get two to three times more phytonutrients in their
diet as compared to people who do not meet fruit and vegetable
recommendations. This was true for all but two of the phytonutrients
studied.
Of note, these data relate to the findings of a previous study
conducted by the Nutrilite Health Institute America's Phytonutrient
Report: Quantifying the Gap that found eight in 10 Americans have a "phytonutrient
gap," meaning they are missing out on health benefits provided by
phytonutrients given their lack of fruit and vegetable intake.
Power Up Produce
For 10 of the 14 phytonutrients included in the
analysis, a single food type accounted for approximately two-thirds or
more of an individual's intake of the specific phytonutrient, regardless
of whether that person was a high or low fruit and vegetable consumer.
Based on the current study, the top food sources
consumed by Americans for some selected phytonutrients were as follows:
● Beta-carotene carrots
● Beta-cryptoxanthin oranges/orange juice
● Lutein/zeaxanthin spinach
● Ellagic acid strawberries
● Isothiocyanates mustard
For each of these phytonutrients, however, there is
a more highly concentrated food that could be chosen instead:
● Beta-carotene sweet potatoes > Sweet potatoes have nearly double the beta-carotene
compared to carrots in a single serving.
● Beta-cryptoxanthin papaya > A serving of fresh papaya has roughly 15 times the beta-cryptoxanthin
of an orange.
● Lutein/zeaxanthin kale > By substituting cooked kale for raw spinach, it is
possible to triple lutein/zeaxanthin intake.
● Ellagic acid raspberries > Serving per serving, raspberries have roughly three
times the ellagic acid compared to strawberries.
● Isothiocyanates watercress > Just one cup of watercress as the basis for a salad has
about the same level of isothiocyanates as four teaspoons of mustard.
The overall goal is to encourage Americans to close
their "phytonutrient gap" by increasing consumption of all phytonutrient-rich
foods. Importantly, by "powering up produce" selection on a regular
basis and by seeking a greater variety of fruits and vegetables,
phytonutrient intakes can be increased.
"The study reiterates our earlier findings that
American adults are missing out on the health benefits of fruits and
vegetables by simply not including enough in their diet," said Randolph.
"Additionally, these data highlight the importance
of not only the quantity, but also the significant impact the quality
and variety of the fruits and vegetables you eat can have on your
health. All Americans can improve their phytonutrient intake by varying
the fruits and vegetables they consume and by focusing on foods that
have a higher concentration of certain phytonutrients," he added.
Study Details
Supporting research for America's Phytonutrient
Report was conducted by Exponent for NUTRILITEฎ, the world's leading
brand of vitamin, mineral, and dietary supplements based on 2008 sales.
The dataset comes from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
(NHANES), surveys that capture what Americans eat daily, supplemental
nutrient concentration data from the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and the published literature. The study population
includes non-pregnant, non-lactating NHANES respondents ages 19 years
and older with two complete and reliable 24-hour dietary recalls based
on NHANES criteria. MyPyramid guidance for fruit and vegetable intake
recommendations, which is based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for
Americans, was used.
For more information on studies conducted by the
Nutrilite Health Institute and the health benefits of phytonutrients
visit
www.nutrilite.com/color.
About Nutrilite
NUTRILITE is the world's leading brand of vitamin,
mineral, and dietary supplements, based on 2008 sales.* NUTRILITE (www.nutrilite.com)
is so committed to total quality control of its plant concentrates from
seed to tablet, it's the only global vitamin and mineral brand to grow,
harvest, and process plants on its own certified organic farms, located
in California, Washington, Mexico, and Brazil. NUTRILITE products are
available exclusively through Amway Global Independent Business Owners (IBOs)
in North America. For more information on NUTRILITE products, history,
farming and manufacturing practices, visit
www.nutrilite.com
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Top
food contributors for several key phytonutrient families in the diet
include oranges, orange juice, carrots, grapes, garlic, tomatoes,
strawberries, prepared mustard, tea and various soy products, according
to the study. 
