Concord Grape Juice Has No Significant Impact on Body Weight

06 Oct 2008 --- Recent study revealed that drinking polyphenol-rich 100% Concord grape juice was not associated with changes in appetite, energy intake or body weight.

06/10/08 Regular consumption of 100% polyphenol-rich Concord grape juice did not cause significant weight gain, was not associated with changes in appetite and was shown to reduce waist circumference according to new data presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nutrition in Arlington, Virginia.

The 12 week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the effect of regular consumption of 100% Concord grape juice on body weight, diet quality, and markers of metabolic syndrome. The study included 76 men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 years who were slightly overweight (body mass index of 25.0 to 29.9). Each participant drank two 8-ounce  servings of 100% Concord grape juice per day (n=25), a polyphenol-free grape-flavored drink (n=26) or was  assigned to a non-treatment control group (n=25). The two test beverages were calorie and sugar matched but only the 100% Concord grape juice contained natural polyphenolic compounds.

Participants in the polyphenol-rich 100% Concord grape juice arm did not show significant weight gain whereas participants who drank the placebo gained on average 1.6kg / 3.4lbs (p<0.05) compared to baseline. Those in the 100% Concord grape juice arm did not show a significant change in appetite, while those who drank the placebo showed a significant decline in self-reported fullness (p<0.005) over the same time period. Furthermore, participants in the 100% Concord grape juice arm exhibited a significant reduction in waist circumference, demonstrating a beneficial effect on one  of the markers of metabolic syndrome. There were no changes in other markers of metabolic syndrome, including cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting glucose levels which were all within normal limits throughout the study.

"Previous research has demonstrated that people generally do not eat less after consuming energy from beverages to the same extent as they reduce dietary energy intake after eating," said Dr. Richard Mattes, Director of the Ingestive Behavior Research Center and Professor in the Department of Foods and  Nutrition at Purdue University, and lead study investigator. "However, in this study, people who drank Concord grape juice daily compensated for the energy in the grape juice, by ingesting less energy from other foods and drinks."

This research suggests that, consumed in moderation, Concord grape juice may be a convenient way to incorporate more fruit into the diet without impacting body weight. It adds to the wealth of data on Welch's 100% Grape Juice. This original Super Juice is made from the entire Concord grape including the skins and seeds, which are pressed to release an abundance of natural polyphenol antioxidants. Polyphenol antioxidants appear to promote good health and have been shown to help protect the body against free radicals. Welch's 100% Grape Juice has significantly higher antioxidant power per serving than other popular 100% fruit juices. It has twice the antioxidant power per serving of orange juice and nearly six times more than apple juice.

Welch Foods Inc. is committed to supporting independent research exploring the role of Concord grape juice in a healthy lifestyle and provided support for the Purdue University study. Study collaborators included James Hollis and Jenny Houchins of the Laboratory for Sensory and Ingestive Studies, from the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University, and Dr. Jeffery Blumberg of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University.

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