In new research, scientists from Western New England University and elsewhere investigated the potential of grapes to modulate the human microbiome and thus influence health.
“The potential influence of the human microbiome, consisting of over 3 million genes and on the order of 1014 microorganisms, on health and well-being is profound,” said Western New England University’s Professor John Pezzuto and his colleagues.
“Over the past two decades, remarkable strides in microbiome research have provided the tools and knowledge to allow meaningful investigation of the influence of this ‘tissue’ on human health and disease.”
“Words such as prebiotic, probiotic, synbiotic, eubiosis and dysbiosis are now commonly incorporated in the ordinary lexicon of the lay public and scientific community.”
“The marketplace has expanded into a multi-billion dollar industry, with substantial growth anticipated in the future, through provision of products designed for humans as well as other mammals.”
“An area of interest for us is the potential influence of grapes on health,” they added.
“Dietary consumption is prevalent, as reflected by the production of over 6 million tons per year in the United States alone.”
“Based on human clinical trials, or studies conducted with animal models, results have suggested an array of responses mediated by the grape on atherosclerosis, inflammation, cancer, gastrointestinal health, CNS effects, osteoarthritis, urinary bladder function, and vision.”
Their eight-week study involved 29 healthy free-living male (age 24-55 years) and female subjects (age 29-53 years).
The authors analyzed microbiome composition as well as urinary and plasma metabolites in the participants following two-weeks of a restricted diet (day 15), two-weeks of a restricted diet with grape consumption (day 30), and four-weeks of restricted diet without grape consumption (day 60).
During the grape consumption phase of the study subjects ate 2…
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