FRESNO, CA - As a scary movie lover, an avid Survivor watcher, and a trade news writer who spends much time typing away at her laptop, my daily screen time has made eye health a key focus for me. Consumers in the same boat will be eager to turn to table grapes as a solution as recent studies show consumption of the fruit has a positive effect on eye health in older adults.

“Our study is the first to show that grape consumption beneficially impacts eye health in humans which is very exciting, especially with a growing aging population,” said Dr. Jung Eun Kim. “Grapes are an easy, accessible fruit that studies have shown can have a beneficial impact in normal amounts of just 1 ½ cups per day.”

The California Table Grape Commission recently shared a study published in the scientific journal Food & Function, which examined the impact of regular grape consumption on macular pigment accumulation and other biomarkers of eye health. The randomized, controlled human study showed that consuming grapes for 16 weeks improved key markers of eye health in older adults, reinforcing earlier, preliminary studies where consuming grapes was found to protect retinal structure and function.

During the course of the study, 34 human subjects consumed either grapes—equivalent to 1 ½ cups of grapes per day—or a placebo for 16 weeks. According to a press release, the grape eaters showed a significant increase in Macular Pigment Optical Density, plasma antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content compared to those on placebo, while those who didn’t consume grapes saw a significant increase in harmful AGEs, as measured in the skin.

How can the industry harness the insights from this recent study to further up the demand for California table grapes?

AndNowUKnow will be here with all the latest tricks and tips, so stick around.

California Table Grape Commission