Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center researchers are conducting the first-ever clinical study to evaluate the potential cardiovascular health benefits of muscadine grape seeds. Muscadine is a grapevine species native to southeastern United States, whose highly pigmented, thick skins have been found to contain high polyphenol (resveratrol) content. The researchers will be evaluating the effect of a dietary supplement sold under the label Nature's Pearl on 50 participants with or at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

Nature's Pearl is prepared in a way that generates a high concentration of plant chemicals, including gallic acid, ellagic acid, oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) and resveratrol. These are known to be antioxidants, or nutrients that can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to the body. For the first four weeks of the study, participants are randomly assigned to take either 1,300 mg. (two capsules) of the Nature's Pearl Muscadine Grape Seed Supplement (grape seeds) daily or a placebo (inactive capsule).

For further details of the clinical trial design, see the Science Daily report. Patients have already been recruited and results are expected to be analyzed in early 2008.