Regularly consuming grapes is beneficial for the muscle health of both men and women, a new study has indicated.
Researchers from the Western New England University have found that long-term grape consumption can improve muscle mass and function because it modifies gene expressions in the muscles.
Each year, roughly 30 million tons of grapes are consumed, data has shown.
Prior research has revealed that the fruit is associated with good gastrointestinal, heart, eye, skin and kidney health.
As a result of eating grapes, genes linked with lean muscle mass tend to increase. Meanwhile, the genes associated with muscle degeneration tend to decrease.
Up to 16% of older adults experience sarcopenia or age-related muscle loss, research has identified.
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Lead author Dr John Pezzuto said: “This study provides compelling evidence that grapes have the potential to enhance muscle health at the genetic level.
“Given their safety profile and widespread availability, it will be exciting to explore how quickly these changes can be observed in human trials.”
Rich in phytochemicals, grapes contain disease-preventive properties through nutrigenomic mechanisms rather than direct chemical interactions.
In the trial, the team of researchers examined how two servings of grapes per day influenced genetic expression patterns in muscle.
With the grape diet, male and female muscles greatly converged into a single phenotype, the findings have reported.
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According to the results, expression of specific genes was linked with good muscle health and muscle degeneration was decreased.
Read the study in the journal Foods.
