Research and health articles

The Power of Procyanidin polyphenol antioxidants

Professor Roger Corder's research

Epidemiological studies revealed that two populations, in southwest France and Sardinia have exceptional longevity. Wines from these regions are significantly higher in polyphenols called procyanidins. In fact up to 10 times more concentrated. The grape varieties and traditional wine-making techniques of the French southwest winemakers increases the concentration of procyanidins in these red wines, particularly in comparison to modern, soft, sweet, anytime drinking red wines.

Corder reports that after two weeks of a daily glass of procyanidin rich red wine positive support for cardiovascular health was observed.

The ground breaking research by Professor Roger Corder and colleagues established that:

♥ Procyanidins lower blood pressure by suppressing endothelin-1, a peptide that has an undesirable vasoconstriction effect, and increasing nitric oxide in the blood causing vasodilation and increasing blood flow

♥ Procyanidins decrease platelet aggregation thus preventing clot formation and blockage of arteries

♥ Procyanidins prevent oxidation of LDL-cholesterol High blood cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for heart disease because LDL-cholesterol can accumulate in the artery wall where after oxidation it causes inflammation and the formation of plaque. When LDL-cholesterol is protected from oxidation it is less likely to cause atherosclerosis.

♥ Very few wines have exceptionally high concentrations of procyanidins Corder tested many wines and identified only a few regions of the world that consistently have the highest concentrations of procyanidins

Diabetes and atherosclerosis are the main focus of Prof Corder's research. These two health problems are closely linked with many diabetics dying prematurely from heart disease.
This research has two main goals -

• discovery of new therapeutic strategies for this ever-increasing health problem, and
• identification of biomarkers of disease that can be used in the early diagnosis of patients before clinically important symptoms develop

These interests led Corder to investigate the importance of improving health and cardiovascular well-being through diet. In recent years Corder has studied the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of regular red wine consumption. His research is providing a wealth of new insights into how polyphenol-rich diets can modify vascular function. It has led to the concept that procyanidins (a particularly abundant type of polyphenol) trigger a response in the vascular endothelium that he has called the pseudo laminar shear stress response. This concept is based on evidence that procyanidins mimic the protective changes in the endothelium induced by the physical shear forces of blood flowing through blood vessels. New functional foods and new medicines to treat endothelial dysfunction and combat vascular disease are likely from further research in this area.

BUY Roger Corder's book The Wine Diet

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Other Procyanidin Research

A steady stream of animal and in vitro studies supplemented by epidemiological evidence and human studies reveal numerous health benefits associated with these compounds. Chief among the benefits is antioxidant protection against heart disease and some cancers.

Procyanidin is expert at treating vascular diseases because it actually increases the structural strength of weakened blood vessels, maintaining their permeability and elasticity. This occurs because procyanidin can help neutralize the underlying chemical cause (free radicals-that cause living cells to be oxidised) that promotes many diseases. procyanidin is one of the most potent antioxidants known -- 50 times more powerful than vitamin E and 20 times more so than vitamin C, according to some tests. Read the Full Report

Perhaps there is significance for our health that with today's prevalence of processed and refined foods, our consumption of procyanidins is much lower than the amount we likely evolved with!

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Flavonoid Research

BOOST YOUR BRAINPOWER and MOOD with FLAVONOIDS    sept 2011

Powerful brainpower benefits occur with Flavonoid compounds according to recent research.  Flavonoids are found in several foods types including red wines - and our reds have the greatest concentrations of these compounds.  Human BRAINPOWER and HAPPINESS are intimately linked to what we consume. Scientists are finding that some foods provide noticeably positive boosts in mental sharpness and mood.

Scientists believe the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods throughout life offers a multiplicity of beneficial effects for brainpower, including the potential to limit neuro-degeneration and to prevent or reverse age-dependent loses in cognitive performance. The intense interest in the development of drugs capable of enhancing brain function means that flavonoids may represent important precursor molecules in the quest to develop a new generation of brain enhancing drugs.

In the meantime scientists testing flavonoid rich foods such as vegetables, berries and cocoa are observing significant boosts in metal acuity (crispness) and mood. Note that procyanidin, which is so concentrated in the tested red wines of SW France we sell, is the same beneficial flavonoid as in cocoa.  Also note that resveratrol is not a flavonoid.

The flavonoids in dark green vegetables have been observed to ward off low moods and depression. The flavonoids on berries and cocoa have raised attention levels. The emerging data is that everyday brain function is closely linked to the levels of micronutrients in food. Fresh, natural, unprocessed foods have long been known to be vital for physical health but the rapid impact on mood and brainpower is only just emerging. Why the red wines are so high in procyanidin flavonoids is that the specific fermentation process of these wines acts to extract the compounds into the wine, making them freely available.

To read a detailed report by nutritional scientist Jeremy Spencer click here.  Read this Sunday Star Times article. 

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