4December2015
PRESSRELEASE
NewresearchlinksConcordgrapejuiceto
cognitivebenefitsinworkingmothers
NewresearchbytheUniversityofLeedsintheUKsuggeststhatdrinkingConcordgrape
juicedailycanbenefitcertainaspectsofmemoryandeverydaytasksinpeoplewith
stressfullifestyles–specificallyworkingmothers1.
Inthestudy,25healthy,40-50yearoldworkingwomenwithpre-teenchildrenwere
enrolledinarandomized,double-blind,cross-overtrialinwhichtheydrankConcord
grapejuiceandagrape-flavoured,sugar-sweeteneddrink(theplacebo)for12weeks
each.
Overthedurationofthestudy,thewomenparticipatedinaseriesoftestsdesignedto
assesstheircognitiveperformance,includinga25-minutedrivingsimulatorchallengein
whichtheywereaskedtomatchthespeedanddirectionofaleadvehicle.Statistically
significantimprovementsinamemorymeasure(immediatespatialmemory)and
drivingperformancewerebothseenwhenthemothersdrank355ml(12fl.ounces)of
Concordgrapejuicedailyversuswhentheyconsumedtheplacebo.Thisisthefirsttime
ithasbeenfoundthatthecognitivebenefitsassociatedwithdrinkingConcordgrape
juiceextendbeyondolderadults.
ThepaperwaspresentedattherecentbiennialInternationalConferenceon
Polyphenols&HealthandaddstothegrowingbodyofevidencefortheroleofConcord
grapejuiceinhealthylifestyles.
Inanotherpaperpresentedattheconference,resultsofapre-clinicalstudysuggestthat
theplantnutrients,orpolyphenols,presentinConcordandNiagaragrapejuicesmayaid
inslowingdownthebody’sabsorptionofnaturallyoccurringsugarsinjuice2.This
suggeststhat,comparedwithconsumingasugar-sweetenedbeverage,drinking100%
grapejuicemayresultinamodestlylowerglycaemicresponse.
Whiletheresearchispreliminary,theworkindicatesthatafterdrinkingConcordgrape
juice,bloodsugarlevelsmayriselessdramaticallythanwouldbeexpected.Moderating
1
LamportDJ,LawtonCL,MeratN,JamsonH,MyrissaK,HofmanD,ChadwickHK,QuadtF,WightmanJD,Dye
L.Concordgrapejuice,cognitivefunctionanddrivingperformance:a12week,placebocontrolled,randomised
crossovertrialinmothersofpre-teenchildren.PresentedatTheInternationalConferenceofPolyphenolsand
Health2015.Tours,France.October27-30,2015.
2
MoserSE,LimJ,WightmanJD,HamakerBR,FerruzziMG.Modulationofintestinalglucoseupdateby
phenolicsrichConcordandNiagaragrapejuicesinacoupledinvitrodigestion/Caco-2modelsystem.
PresentedatTheInternationalConferenceofPolyphenolsandHealth2015.Tours,France.October27-30,
2015.
bloodsugarresponsefromfoodsandbeveragesmaytranslatetoimprovedblood
glucosecontrolinsupportofhealth.
Thisinitialresearch,conductedatPurdueUniversity,furtherreinforcesthedistinction
betweensugar-sweetenedbeveragesand100%grapejuice,whichdeliversnaturally
occurringfruitsugarsincombinationwithhealth-promotingpolyphenols.
CaseyLewis,Welch’sDietitianandHealth&NutritionLead,said:“Thefindings
presentedattheInternationalConferenceonPolyphenols&Healthaddtothenearly20
yearsofsciencelinkingConcordgrapejuicetohearthealth3andsuggestpossiblenovel
benefitsintheareasofcognitivefunctionandbloodsugarcontrol.Whilemoreresearch
isneededtoaddtothiswork,thesenewstudiesarepromising,especiallygiventhe
growinginterestintheroleofnutritionincognitivewellbeingandtheongoingdialogue
aroundbeveragesandhealth.Thisworkbuildsonyearsofresearchthatsuggests
Concordgrapejuicecanbepartofahealthydietandisanutritiousbeveragechoice.”
Welch’sisoneofAmerica’soldestjuicecompanieswithnearly150years’ofexperience
growingConcordgrapesandtransformingtheminto100%grapejuice.NativetoNorth
AmericaandgrownbyWelch’snearly1,000family-farmerowners,thedarkpurple
Concordgrapeisrenownedforitsdistinctivelysweetandboldflavourandisonetruly
American‘superfruit’.
UnderanexclusivedistributionagreementwithNetherlands-basedWildJuice,Concord
grapejuiceconcentrateisnowavailableforcompaniesacrosstheEMEAregiontousein
brandedandprivatelabelbeverages.
FormoreinformationaboutthehealthbenefitsofConcordsandgrapejuice,visit
grapescience.com.
ENDS
Formoreinformation,pleasecontact:
KineBjoralt,IngredientCommunications
Tel:+441412804141
Email:[email protected]
@ingredientcomms
AboutWelch’s
Welch’sistheprocessingandmarketingsubsidiaryoftheNationalGrapeCooperative.
LocatedacrossAmericaandinOntario,Canada,thecooperative’sapproximately1,000
familyfarmersownthecompanyandgrowthedeliciousandinherentlyhealthyConcord
GrapeusedinWelch’sjuicesandothergrape-basedproducts.Welch’siscommittedto
researchanddevelopmentthatwillmeetthegrowingdemandforproductsthataddress
consumers’healthandnutritionneeds.Welch’sproductsaresoldthroughouttheUnited
Statesandinapproximately40countriesaroundtheglobe.Welch’sisanEqual
OpportunityEmployer–Minorities/Female/Disabled/Veterans.Formoreinformation,
visitwelchs.com.
3
VislockyLMandFernandezML.GrapesandGrapeProducts:TheirRoleinHealth.NutrToday.2013.
48(1):47-51.