Dried Cabernet Grapes and Cardiovascular Risk Markers

The initiation and progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is multifactorial in nature, and is currently thought of as a chronic inflammatory condition. To reduce the risk of CVD and its associated health care costs in California and elsewhere, nutrition and health recommendations strongly advocate the consumption of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Such recommendations are based largely on epidemiological data; the mechanisms underlying the putative positive effects of plant food-rich diets are poorly defined and an area of active debate.

In addition to essential vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables contain a number of bioactive compounds that may be involved in vascular function. In this regard, epidemiological studies have noted a significant inverse relationship between the intake of plant foods rich in polyphenols and the risk of both all-cause mortality and CVD. For example, the "French paradox" refers to diet patterns that, despite being high in saturated fat, are associated with a relatively low cardiovascular risk, which may be due, in part, to a robust intake of polyphenols found in red wine, grapes, and other plant foods. Red wine contains an array of phytochemicals that have been proposed to improve cardiovascular health, with a great focus on polyphenols. However, grape products such as dried cabernet grapes also contain substantial amounts of polyphenols that may be vasculoprotective.

Inclusion criteria

• Postmenopausal female: 50-70 years
• Women: lack of menses for at least one year and FSH 23-116.3 mlU/mL
• Subject is willing and able to comply with the study protocols.
• Subject is willing to participate in all study procedures
• BMI 25.0 - 40 kg/m2
• Weight ≥ 110 pounds

Exclusion criteria

• BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2
• Dislike or allergy for grape products and raisins
• Self-reported use of daily anticoagulation agents including aspirin, NSAIDs
• Vegan, Vegetarians, food faddists or those consuming a non-traditional diet
• Alcohol consumption > 3 drinks/week (i.e. 1 bottle of beer, 1 glass of wine, and 1 shot of hard liquor)
• Fruit consumption ≥ 2 cups/day
• Vegetable consumption ≥ 3 cups/day for females
• Fatty Fish ≥ 3 times/week
• Coffee/tea ≥ 3 cups/day
• Dark chocolate ≥ 3 oz/day
• Self-reported restriction of physical activity due to a chronic health condition
• Self-reported chronic/routine high intensity exercise
• Self-reported diabetes
• Blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mm Hg
• Self-reported renal or liver disease
• Self-reported heart disease, which includes cardiovascular events and stroke
• Inability to properly place or wear the PAT probes or abnormal measurements on pre-screening PAT
• Abnormal Liver, CBC or Chemistry panels (laboratory values outside the reference range) if determined to be clinically significant by the study physician.
• Self-reported cancer within past 5 years
• Self-reported malabsorption
• Currently taking prescription drugs or supplements.
• Use of multi-vitamin and mineral other than a general formula of vitamins and minerals that meet the RDA
• Not willing to stop any supplement use, including herbal, plant or botanical, fish oil, oil supplements a month prior to study enrollment.
• Indications of substance or alcohol abuse within the last 3 years
• Screening LDL ≥ 190 mg/dl for those who have 0-1 major risk factors apart from LDL cholesterol (i.e. family history of premature coronary artery disease (male first degree relative < 55 years; CHD in female first degree relative < 65 years), cigarette smoker, HDL-C ≤ 40 mg/dL].
• Screening LDL ≥ 160 mg/dl for those who have 2 major risk factors apart from LDL cholesterol [i.e. family history of premature coronary artery disease (male first degree relative < 55 years; CHD in female first degree relative < 65 years), cigarette smoker, HDL-C ≤ 40 mg/dL].

(using NCEP calculator http://cvdrisk.nhlbi.nih.gov/calculator.asp);

• Screening LDL ≥ 130 mg/dl for those who have 2 major risk factors apart from LDL cholesterol [i.e. family history of premature coronary artery disease (male first degree relative < 55 years; CHD in female first degree relative < 65 years), cigarette smoker, HDL-C ≤ 40 mg/dL], and a Framingham 10-year Risk Score 10-20% (using NCEP calculator http://cvdrisk.nhlbi.nih.gov/calculator.asp).
• Current enrollee in a clinical research study.

The following special populations will be excluded:

• Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers)
• Pregnant women
• Prisoners