Consumers Get the Message: Fresh California Grapes Have Health Potential

    FRESNO, Calif., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Increasing scientific evidence on
 the healthful properties of antioxidants found in fresh grapes is contributing
 to greater consumer awareness about the health potential for fresh grapes.  As
 part of a recent national omnibus study, consumers were asked whether they
 knew that fresh grapes contain antioxidants linked to fighting diseases such
 as cancer and heart disease.  Nearly 58 percent of those polled said "yes."
 That's up from the 27 percent who agreed with the statement during a similar
 poll conducted in 1997.
     "We're pleased that people are getting the message about grapes and
 health," said Jim Howard, vice president of the California Table Grape
 Commission (www.freshCaliforniagrapes.com), which sponsored both the 2004 and
 1997 polls.  "This research focus is full of promise and one that merits our
 continued support."  Since 1997 the commission has funded 22 research studies
 examining the links between eating fresh California grapes and improved
 health.
     Several of the phytonutrients found in fresh grapes, such as anthocyanins,
 catechins and quercetin have captured the interest of scientists worldwide,
 but none more than a compound called resveratrol, found primarily in the skins
 of grapes.  "There appears to be growing consensus among the scientific
 community that resveratrol has potent disease-fighting capabilities," said Dr.
 Le Creasy, who discovered resveratrol in grapes through his work at Cornell
 University in the early nineties.  "Continued research will also work to
 explore its probable synergistic effects with other beneficial compounds found
 in grapes."
 
     This year alone, published results on resveratrol include:
     -- In Nature (July 2004), researchers at Harvard University reported that
        resveratrol may contribute to increased longevity in the same way that
        caloric restriction does, by decreasing the development of fat cells
        and increasing the use of fat within existing cells.  Resveratrol was
        also shown to prevent premature cell death.  These life-extending
        effects were seen in a variety of species, including yeast, flies and
        worms. Further studies in animals are currently underway.
     -- In Surgery (July 2004), researchers reported results of recent studies
        on resveratrol and neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer,
        finding that resveratrol caused cell death and cell cycle arrest in
        neuroblastoma cells, as well anti-tumor activity against neuroblastoma
        in mice.
     -- In Melanoma Research (June 2004) resveratrol was found to selectively
        inhibit the growth of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive melanoma cells.
     -- In Anticancer Research (March/April 2004), a Canadian research team
        found that resveratrol and curcumin, an antioxidant found in the spice
        turmeric, induced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell
        viability, cell-cycle arrest and cell death of neuroblastoma cells.
     -- In the American Journal of Physiology Lung Cellular Molecular
        Physiology (June 2004) researchers at the National Heart Lung Institute
        Imperial College London reported that resveratrol and quercetin
        exhibited unique, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory activity on human
        epithelial cells, that may have applications for treatment of anti-
        inflammatory diseases.
     -- In Oncology Report (February 2004), Korean researchers found that
        resveratrol inhibits cell proliferation and causes cancer cell
        mortality in human breast cancer cells.
 
     Additionally, numerous studies indicate that grapes, grape-derived foods
 or components of grapes may protect against heart disease by:
     -- Increasing the resistance of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
        (LDL-C) to oxidation
     -- Decreasing platelet aggregation and arterial lesions
     -- Promoting arterial relaxation and other favorable metabolic effects
 
     "The continuing push to understand why grapes are good for you shows no
 sign of slowing and we will continue to monitor developments in this area,"
 said Howard.  "Fortunately grapes are a food that people want to eat just for
 their great taste -- contributing to good health is just a bonus."
 
 

SOURCE  California Table Grape Commission