The Purple Grape Juice Study

Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Trial

Official title: Anti-thrombotic Effects of Long Term Consumption of Purple Grape Juice in Healthy People

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the largest contributor to morbidity and mortality in the Western world and is associated with high-calorie diet, high body mass, and a variety of other factors. CHD can lead to myocardial infarction (MI) and other embolic events. In some areas such as France, though, a paradox of high-cholesterol diets but low CHD and MI incidence have been found. This paradox has been traced to the consumption of red wine. Further research suggests that components of the grapes used in red wine may be the source of the cardio-protective factors that have resulted in the French paradox. These components are also present in purple grape juice (PGJ). PGJ has been shown to have a variety of potential cardio-protective effects, including inhibition of platelet aggregation. Since PGJ does not contain alcohol it may provide an additional benefit by avoiding the physical and social implications of alcohol abuse. Since most of the research of PGJ has been in vitro, though, and the few studies in vivo have been in cross-over studies and over very short durations of 7 to 14 days, additional research is required to determine whether the long-term consumption of PGJ is of additional and sustained benefit, similar to long-term use of red wine in France. The proposed study is a 2 arm randomized, controlled (double-blind) study of PGJ and a calorically-matching placebo drink in 100 healthy individuals.

Clinical Trial Description

The study treatment period will be 90 days (13 weeks, or 3 months) and the treatment dose will be 7 mL/kg/day. The treatment dose is a standard dose previously worked out in other research and was used in a variety of other clinical research (27, 32). Study randomization will be performed in a double-blind fashion with study investigators and participants unaware of group assignment. Randomization order will be created using a randomized blocked design. After volunteer consent is provided, the clinical study coordinator will open a sequentially-numbered envelope containing the study group assignment and provide a 4 week supply of study beverage.

Participants will be seen for follow-up study visits at approximately 4 week intervals after the baseline enrollment visit. Compliance with study treatment (PGJ or placebo) will be assessed by interview at visits 2, 3, and 4. At the conclusion of visits 2 and 3, a supply of study beverage will be provided to the participant for consumption during the ensuing 4 weeks. Study beverage supplies remaining at the end of the 90-day study period will be donated to each participant.

Platelet Aggregation testing will be performed by ThromboVision (Salt Lake City, UT) using multiple platelet agonists, including ADP, collagen/epinephrine, PMA, and TRAP. Each of these aggregation inducers target a separate platelet activation pathway. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Cardiovascular Diseases

• NCT number: NCT00551746
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Intermountain Health Care, Inc.
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: July 2007
• Completion date: December 2009