Recently a team of researchers conducted an assigned, controlled human study and concluded that, consuming grapes for four months improved key markers of eye health in older adults.
The controlled trial (NCT05064865), published in the scientific journal Food & Function looked at the impact of regular consumption of grapes on macular pigment accumulation and other biomarkers of eye health and this is the first human study on this subject, which the results supported before and the initial studies concluded that consuming grapes was found to protect retinal structure and function.
According to a recent news release from the California Table Grape Association, research has proved that an aging population has a high risk of eye disease and vision problems. They mentioned that key risk factors for eye disease include oxidative stress and high levels of ocular advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs may contribute to many eye diseases by damaging the vascular components of the retina, causing oxidative stress and impairing cellular function.
In a study researchers wrote that; Oxidative stress is the main risk factor for visual impairment and consuming dietary antioxidant-rich foods may help to control visual impairments.
Dietary antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress and prevent the formation of AGEs, with possible beneficial effects on the retina, such as an improvement in Macular Pigment Optical Density (MPOD).
The association realized that grapes are a natural source of antioxidants and other polyphenols. In the study, 34 human subjects consumed either grapes (equivalent to 1 ½ cups of grapes per day) or a placebo for four months. The grape consumers showed a significant increase in MPOD, plasma antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content compared to those on placebo. As measured in the skin, there was a significant increase in harmful AGE’s, for those who didn’t consume grapes.
Jung Eun Kim, PhD said that, our study is the first to show that grape consumption is very important for eye health in people which is very exciting, especially with a growing aging population and since grapes are available freely, studies have shown that it can have a beneficial impact in normal amounts of just 1 ½ cups per day.”
Throughout the study, there were no differences in dietary lutein intake, plasma lutein concentration and skin carotenoid status between groups. However, researchers concluded that, by consuming grapes regularly will improve eye health in older adults, specifically in augmenting MPOD, which can be explained by an increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity and phenolic content, and the downregulation of AGEs.
