Grapes, Grape Seeds, Wine and Knotweed

Grapes and/or wine have been recently studied for their health properties.  Because of the desires of the wine industry to promote its product, often the press releases and research studies only mention wine.  In fact, most of the research shows that any beneficial components of wine that have been mentioned except the alcohol itself are found in higher quantities in grape juice.  Research on alcohol and heart disease can be found under Health Benefits in the alcohol section of this website.

In view of the devastating impact of alcohol on human society, it is very important to remember that alcohol is a dangerous and addictive drug which causes large amounts of violence and death.  Cautiously drinking no more than one drink per day is acceptable for older adults, but any health benefits of wine can be totally explained by resveratrol and alcohol.  The resveratrol is better obtained from grape juice, raisins, and peanuts.  While I am opposed to using alcohol as a social beverage, a single 4 oz. glass of wine or single 12 oz. beer no more than once a day probably does have added health benefits for individuals over age 45.

Resveratrol did help a short-lived fish species live longer in a recent study, but 12 studies with mice and rats, mammals with much longer lives, have shown increased longevity from melatonin. 

Pubmed Articles: Wide variety of lab studies find that grapes or resveratrol, a component of grapes and grape seeds, inhibit leukemia, prostate, liver, and breast CA cells and and cause vasorelaxation. Resveratrol is found in grapes, mulberries, peanuts and others. It also has anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties, is a strong anti-oxidant, and inhibits prostaglandin synthesis. Many researchers consider it helpful lowering heart disease in France. Univ Bologna research found neuroprotective in rats when given chronically and rats injected with excitotoxin kainic acid. : Neurosci Lett 2000 Mar 10;281. Quercetin is another polyphenol present in grapes as well as a few other fruits and vegetables. Both inhibit squamous cell cancer cultures. It is present in the grape skin in response to fungal attack. Cardioprotective in rats in two studies. Inhibits mouse breast CA. Grapes contain a variety of antioxidants, including resveratrol, catechin, epicatechin and proanthocyanidins. Of these, resveratrol is present mainly in grape skin while proanthocyanidin is present in the seeds. In this report, we provide evidence that red wine extract as well as resveratrol and proanthocyanidins are equally effective in reducing myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1999;25(2-3):115. reduces oxidative stress in neuronal-like cell cultures. We have shown that resveratrol induces phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family members, extracellular regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2, in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells in vitro at much lower concentrations than those found in the plasma of rats after oral wine administration. MAP kinases are involved in numerous different aspects of signal transduction in the cells. In particular, phosphorylation of ERK2 has been related to the synaptic changes at the basis of memory and learning processes. Epidemiological studies which have demonstrated an inverse relationship between moderate wine intake and dementia. Drugs Exp Clin Res 1999;25(2-3):99

Resveratrol in Blueberry, Cranberries; Pterostilbene Another Anti-oxidant: Pterostilbene only in grapes. High anti-oxidant, glucose lowering effect and anti-cancer. Very strong anti-fungal for grape plant and only 10-20% level of resveratrol. Dark-skinned grapes (such as red and blue-black) are likely to contain the most pterostilbene. J Agricultural Food Chemistry 6/19/02; Resveratrol is high in grapes, wine, peanuts

Grape Juice Cuts Radicals: Georgetown study, 20 volunteers drank two cups of juice a day. In just two weeks, their blood levels of the antioxidant vitamin E were 13 percent higher and the production of free radicals was cut by 33 percent. Circulation, Dec. 2001.

Grape Juice better than Wine: Hampster study alcohol vs. water vs. red wine vs. dealcoholized wine vs. grape juice found that 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. 10 week study. Atherosclerosis 2001 May;156(1):67-72

Concord Grape Juice vs. Vitamin E in Adults: In healthy adults, 10 mL of Concord grape juice/kg/day (1.5 cups for the average adult man) increased serum antioxidant capacity and protected LDL against oxidation to an extent similar to that obtained with 400 IU alpha-tocopherol/d but decreased native plasma protein oxidation significantly more than did alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E). Concord grape juice flavonoids are potent antioxidants that may protect against oxidative stress and reduce the risk of free radical damage and chronic diseases. Comparison of the antioxidant effects of Concord grape juice flavonoids alpha-tocopherol on markers of oxidative stress in healthy adults. O'Byrne DJ, Devaraj S, Grundy SM, Jialal. Am J Clin Nutr 2002 Dec;76(6):1367-74

Cranberry Juice Increases HDL Good Cholesterol and Anti-Oxidant Values: Joe Vincon, U Scranton, Amer Chem Society 3/26/03. 19 volunteers drank 3 glasses per day. Says OJ also increases HDL but not anti-ox while grape increases anti-ox but decreases HDL. Cranberry juice was 27% but with artificial sweeteners or no sweetener, so not the same as sold in stores.  The cranberry juice in stores is loaded with sugar which may decrease its health benefits.

Grapes Resveratrol Decreased PSA: Grape-derived chemopreventive agent resveratrol decreases prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expression in LNCaP cells by an androgen receptor (AR)-independent mechanism. Anticancer Res 2000 Jan-Feb;20(1A):225-

Resveratrol Blocks Chlamydia Pneumonia in Vitro: A study by Gail Mahady at the Univ of Illinois at Chicago found resveratrol or a concentrated extract of pinot noir wine each drastically stunted growth of bacterial colonies of this virus which has been linked to arterial plaques and heart disease. New Scientist 1/10/04.  As usual, media coverage focused on resveratrol being found in wine with no mention that it is found in higher concentrations and more cheaply in grape juice.

Resveratrol Protects Mice Brain: Resveratrol, a polyphenolic antioxidant, can cross the blood-brain barrier and exert protective effects against cerebral ischemic injury. U Missouri. Resveratrol protects against global cerebral ischemic injury in gerbils. Wang Q, Xu J, Rottinghaus GE, Simonyi A, Lubahn D, Sun GY, Sun AY. Brain Res 2002 Dec 27;958(2):439-47

Resveratrol Helps Yeast Longevity Via Sir2: 70% increase in longevity. Sir2 involved with NAD+. Affected also by caloric restriction. Small molecule activators of sirtuins extend Saccharomyces cerevisiae lifespan. Howitz KT, Bitterman KJ, Cohen HY, Lamming DW, Lavu S, Wood JG, Zipkin RE, Chung P, Kisielewski A, Zhang LL, Scherer B, Sinclair DA. Nature. 2003 Aug 24; resveratrol high abundance in nature (e.g., it accounts for 5-10% of the grapeskin biomass). Polyphenols were present in the grape preparation at 0.58 g/100 g and included flavans, anthocyanins, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol and resveratrol.

Resveratrol Helps Yeast & Fruit Flies Live Longer: Dr. David Sinclair, Harvard, have shown that resveratrol prolongs life span only in yeast, a fungus, by 70 percent. But a colleague, Dr. Mark Tatar of Brown University, has shown in a report yet to be published that the compound has similar effects in fruit flies. Claims it mimics caloric restriction by stimulating sirtuin production and the sir2 gene. An MIT researcher made claims of extending human life. Ed: Researchers involved all own patents and companies, thus, the intense promotion, e.g. of adding 10 years to human life, seems very ill-advised. Drinking New York and Burgundy and Pinor Noir wines promoted but no mention of grape juice. Claim that resveratrol unstable and breaks down within 24 hours of opening bottle also sounds exaggerated as the basis of other research reports. Their company wants to produce a more stable (and patentable) molecule. NYT 8/24/03

Grapes Cardioprotective in Mice: Study 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/d grape extract. Higher doses helped. SGE reduced the malonaldehyde content of the heart, indicating reduction of oxidative stress during ischemia and reperfusion. In vitro studies demonstrated that the SGE could directly scavenge superoxide and hydroxyl radicals that are formed in the ischemic reperfused myocardium. U Conn. Cardioprotection with grapes. Cui J, Juhasz B, Tosaki A, Maulik N, Das DK. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2002 Nov;40(5):762-9

Grape Juice Reduces Lymphocyte DNA Damage and Oxidation in Humans: 67 healthy adults 2 cups per day x 8 weeks. 21% reduction cellular DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes and 15% reduction the amount of free radicals released. S. Korea. Daily grape juice consumption reduces oxidative DNA damage and plasma free radical levels in healthy Koreans. Park YK, Park E, Kim JS, Kang MH. Mutat Res. 2003 Aug 28;529(1-2):77-86

Grapes in Guinea Pig Diet Cuts Aorta Cholesterol: Grape polyphenols decrease plasma triglycerides and cholesterol accumulation in the aorta of ovariectomized guinea pigs. Zern TL, West KL, Fernandez ML. J Nutr. 2003 Jul;133(7):2268-72. Polyphenols were present in the grape preparation at 0.58 g/100 g and included flavans, anthocyanins, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol and resveratrol.

Anthocyanidin Bioavailability Low but Juice Better than Wine: 1 cup juice or wine with urine measured for metabolites. Bioavailability of anthocyanidin-3-glucosides following consumption of red wine and red grape juice. Frank T, Netzel M, Strass G, Bitsch R, Bitsch I. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2003 May;81(5):423-35

Peanut-Raisin Snack Better: Study of 10 healthy subjects found choc-coated candy bar or coke & chips caused higher sugar and insulinemia and lower sugar on rebound than banana-peanut or especially raisin-peanut. Am J Clin Nutr 1987 Jan;45(1):86-91

Resveratrol Induces Apoptosis in Melanoma, Colorectal, & Pancreatic CA in Vitro: Northwestern Univ. Pancreas 2002 Nov;25(4):e71-6; BMC Cancer 2002 Oct 17;2(1):27; Int J Mol Med 2002 Aug;10(2):193-

Beans, Lentils, Tomatoes, Raisins, Peas Good: A 6 year follow-up study of 14,000 7^th Day Adventists found consumption of beans, lentils and peas, tomatoes, raisin, dates, and other dried fruit were all associated with significantly decreased prostate cancer risk. Cancer 1989 Aug 1;64(3):598-604

Wine No Benefit Dementia: While moderate wine consumption was found to be associated with a fourfold diminishing of the risk of Alzheimer's disease (OR = 0.26), as found in other studies, this effect was found to disappear when institutionalization was taken into account. Wine consumption was associated with an increased risk of decline over time in attention and in secondary memory. : Int J Epidemiol 1999 Feb;28(1):77

Prospective Study Says Wine Helps Prevent Dementia: prospectively studied 3,777 community residents aged 65 and over, in the districts of Gironde and Dordogne. Average daily alcoholic consumption was recorded at baseline. Incident cases of dementia and Alzheimer's disease were screened at follow-up with explicit criteria. At 3 years, 2,273 subjects not demented at baseline were still available for follow-up. Wine was the only alcoholic beverage reported by more than 95% of regular drinkers. In the 318 subjects drinking 3 to 4 standard glasses per day (> 250 and up to 500 ml), categorized as moderate drinkers, the crude odds ratio (OR) was 0.18 for incident dementia (p < 0.01) and 0.25 for Alzheimer's disease (p < 0.03), as compared to the 971 non-drinkers. After adjusting for age, sex, education, occupation, baseline MMSE and other possible confounders, the ORs were respectively 0.19 (p < 0.01) and 0.28 (p < 0.05). In the 922 mild drinkers (< 1 to 2 glasses per day) there was a negative association only with AD, after adjustment (OR = 0.55; p < 0.05). The inverse relationship between moderate wine drinking and incident dementia was explained neither by known predictors of dementia nor by medical, psychological or socio-familial factors. Rev Neurol (Paris) 1997 Apr;153(3):185

Grape Juice Lowers LDL Oxidation: 15 patients with Coronary artery disease drank 12-16 oz. purple grape juice/day for 14 days. They had lowered LDL oxidation lag time and flow mediated vasodilation. Folts. Circ ’99;100:1050-5 

Thomas E. Radecki, M.D., J.D.

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