Grapes may reverse effects of metabolic syndrome

The natural components in grapes called polyphenols appear to help protect organs from damage caused by metabolic syndrome, according to research presented at the Experimental Biology conference in Boston on April 22.

A diet that includes grapes of any variety has a stronger effect in lowering the inflammatory markers throughout the body, particularly reducing fat in the heart, liver and abdominal area. This is the gist of a study led by E. Mitchell Seymour, Ph.D., of the University of Michigan Health System.

The research

Dr Seymour and his team compared the results of a diet enriched with freeze-dried grape powder (red, green and black) versus one that is not, in obesity-prone rats. Within 90 days, the rats whose diet consisted of grape powder showed significant decrease in fat as compared to those fed the control diet. Grape intake increased markers of antioxidant defense, particularly in the liver and kidneys.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together – increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist or low HDL (the good cholesterol) and increased blood triglycerides – significantly increasing the risk for heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. Eating fruits and vegetables is thought to reduce these risks, and grapes have shown benefits in multiple studies.

“Our study suggests that a grape-enriched diet may play a critical role in protecting against metabolic syndrome and the toll it takes on the body and its organs,” said Dr Seymour. “Both inflammation and oxidative stress play a role in cardiovascular disease progression and organ dysfunction in Type 2 diabetes. Grape intake impacted both of these components in several tissues which is a very promising finding.”

This work extends and reinforces the findings of Dr Seymour’s pAdidas Ultra Boost 3.0 Cny