Compounds in grape juice as effective as those in cranberry juice in reducing bacterial adhesion associated with UTI
http://www.newswise.com/articles/2001/11/UTIGRAPE.JMP.html
8-Nov-01
Concord, MA (November 8, 2001) --
In laboratory tests, compounds found in purple grape juice were as effective
as those found in cranberry juice in blocking the bacterial adhesion that
is thought to contribute to urinary tract infections. Urinary tract infections
are a painful condition that affects nearly ten million Americans each
year, mostly women, and are the country's second most commonly treated
infection.
"It is well accepted that drinking
cranberry juice reduces the incidence of urinary tract infection in women,"
explains David Mark, Ph.D., R&D Manager, Health and Nutrition, for
Welch Foods Inc., which sponsored the study. "This effect is attributed
to compounds in the juice called proanthocyanidins. In our in vitro study,
the proanthocyanidins from purple grape juice showed similar anti-adhesive
qualities as those from cranberry juice."
Urinary tract infections occur when
E. coli, a common bacterium, adheres to the lining of the bladder, colonizes
and infects the bladder and urinary tract. The study, conducted five separate
times, compared proanthocyanidins from Welch's Purple 100% Grape Juice
against those from both Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail and 100% cranberry
juice in their effect against E. coli and found that the grape juice proanthocyanidins
provided comparable bacterial anti-adhesion. The study was designed to
replicate previous published research on the anti-adhesive properties of
proanthocyanidins extracted from cranberries, by measuring the inhibition
of E. coli adhesion to target cells in cell cultures.
"We think this is good news for the
consumer," adds Mark. "More and more Americans are drinking purple grape
juice for their heart health. Now people concerned about urinary tract
health may have another effective, good tasting option to consider."
Purple grape juice has been shown
to enhance cardiovascular function in a number of previous preliminary
clinical studies. One serving of Welch's Purple 100% grape juice contains
100% of the RDA of vitamin C and counts towards the USDA goal of five servings
of fruits and vegetables a day. According to a USDA study, purple grape
juice also has three times the antioxidant power of such popular juices
as grapefruit, orange, tomato and apple. It also carries the American Heart
Association's HeartCheck symbol.
Contact: Julie McQuain
© 1995-2001 Newswise
JMPR Associates Inc.
212 477 0472
Julie@JMPR.com