Consumption of a polyphenol-rich grape-wine extract lowers ambulatory blood pressure in mildly hypertensive subjects.
Polyphenols in grape and wine have been suggested to contribute to the cardiovascular health benefits of the Mediterranean lifestyle. The reported effects of grape products on blood pressure (BP) remain, however, equivocal. In a double-blind placebo controlled crossover study, the effect of two grape extracts on BP and vascular function was assessed in 60 untreated, mildly hypertensive subjects after four weeks intervention. Both extracts (grape-red wine and grape alone) had high concentrations of anthocyanins and flavonols, but the grape alone was relatively poor in catechins and procyanidins. Parameters measured included ambulatory and office BP, flow-mediated vasodilation, arterial distensibility, platelet function and plasma lipoproteins. Results showed that 24-hour ambulatory systolic/diastolic BPs were significantly lower in the grape-wine extract intervention (135.9 ± 1.3/84.7 ± 0.8 mmHg; mean ± SEM) compared to placebo (138.9 ± 1.3/86.6 ± 1.2 mmHg), predominantly during daytime. Plasma concentrations of the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 decreased by 10%, but other measures of vascular function were not affected. Grape juice extract alone had no effect on BP or any measures of vascular function. Polyphenol-rich food products, and may be specifically catechins and procyanidins, may thus help sustain a healthy BP and contribute to the healthy Mediterranean lifestyle.
Unilever Research & Development Vlaardingen, Olivier van Noortlaan 120, Vlaardingen 3133 AT, The Netherlands. richard.draijer@unilever.com.
Richard
R
Draijer
Unilever Research & Development Vlaardingen, Olivier van Noortlaan 120, Vlaardingen 3133 AT, The Netherlands. young-de.graaf@unilever.com.
Young
Y
de Graaf
Unilever Research & Development Vlaardingen, Olivier van Noortlaan 120, Vlaardingen 3133 AT, The Netherlands. meyer.ma@menzis.nl.
Marieke
M
Slettenaar
Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Department of Vascular Medicine, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands. ericdg@xs4all.nl.
Eric
E
de Groot
Unilever Research & Development Vlaardingen, Olivier van Noortlaan 120, Vlaardingen 3133 AT, The Netherlands. ciwright26@hotmail.com.
Chris I
CI
Wright
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000032:analysis; D044946:Biflavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002392:Catechin / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D044948:Flavonols / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010979:Platelet Function Tests; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000032:analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014920:Wine
D000872:Anthocyanins; D044946:Biflavonoids; D019332:Endothelin-1; D044948:Flavonols; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; C017674:procyanidin; D002392:Catechin