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Supplement: Grapes and Health

Grape Consumption Supports Immunity in Animals and Humans^1,2

Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611

All nutrients play a role in maintaining the immune system and providing substrate for the response. T cells, on the other hand, seem to have a unique response to certain dietary bioactive components found in the plant family. Although the identification of those components is not well known yet, members of the proanthocyanidin family and the anthocyanin family of compounds are candidates. Because grapes and grape products contain both of these types of compounds, I hypothesized that grapes may help maintain or support the immune response, specifically the T cell. Data from intact animal studies show that immune function is supported by grape products. In humans, relatively little research has been conducted using the food as an intervention; however, a study currently in progress showed that Concord grape juice supported circulating T cells and maintained immune function, whereas participants receiving the placebo juice had changes associated with reduced immunity. After an overview of immunity, this paper will focus on reviewing the literature on grapes and other food products made from grapes and their potential for interaction with the T cell in whole-body systems.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: percival{at}ufl.edu.

Published online 29 July 2009.