Consumer Insights, Nutrition & Community Committee Kathleen Nave, Chair January 26, 2009 Sacramento, CA
Consumer Insights, Nutrition & Community Grape Health Workshop –December 2-3, 2008 in San Francisco –Seven areas of emphasis Cardiovascular Cancer Cognitive Function/Brain Health Immune Function Diabetes/Glycemic Response Anti-microbial/Anti-adhesion Bioavailability/Analytical
Consumer Insights, Nutrition & Community Workshop Goals –Establish a consensus about research areas of promise –Provide information needed for gap analysis –Stimulate discussion among key researchers –Provide direction to the grape industry –Publish papers presented in applicable professional journal
Dr. Joseph Vita, Cardiovascular Most research data on wine; some on juice Benefit to vascular endothelium (cells lining inside of blood vessels) Improvement of platelet function, blood pressure, reduced clots, protection of LDL cholesterol and anti-inflammatory effect
Dr. Susan Zunino, Diabetes/Glycemic Resonse Diabetes: defects in pancreatic beta-cell function & decreased disposal of glucose in tissues – also inflammatory molecules produced by fat tissue Resveratrol and grapeseed procyanidins lowered blood glucose Quercetin protected beta cells
Dr. Sue Percival Can grapes improve surveillance mode of immunity – priming T-cells for immunity enhancement & anti-inflammatory benefits? Work with Muscadine & Cabernet wines Grapes may influence “functional immunity tests” in animals & people Next step underway: looking at preventing illness
Dr. Raja Aggarwal, Cancer Work with grapeseed extract on cancer Animal studies: benefits on the following cancers: colon, breast, skin, prostate, head and neck Proanthocyanidins are key component
Dr. James Joseph, Brain Health Work primarily with blueberries, extrapolated to grapes Polyphenols may decrease sensitivity to oxidative stress Oxidative stress and inflamation are “the evil twins of brain aging” Verbal memory of human subjects improved with grape juice
Dr. Christine Wu, Dental health Grapes may suppress growth factors of oral pathogens associated with cavities, gum disease and band breath Most work conducted with raisins, which show some anti-microbial activity Fresh grapes drop pH, but effect is quickly neutralized above 6.1
Dr. Andy Waterhouse Bioactive substances in grapes & wine including polyphenolic compounds & metabolites Phenolics have low absorbtion rates & quick excretion Metabolites of phytonutrients may be more potent and should be studied further; these include catechins, anthocyanins, procyanidins and quercetin
Considerations, cont… Cardiovascular research –Pool research for a human study –Blood pressure (biomarker for heart disease) has shown positive results Brain health research in humans Welch’s study CTGC studies on Alzheimer’s; grapes & mechanism affecting brain
Considerations, cont…. Metabolite activity –Review grape polyphenolic compounds –Possible to analyze human blood samples from human studies already completed or will new collective research be needed? Grape Seed Extract Is this applicable to all NGWI products? If not, perhaps work in this area shouldn’t be undertaken by NGWI