Grape Juice

Last Updated: September 28, 2022

Plain old grape juice isn't as popular as fermented grape juice (aka wine). However, grape juice does contain potentially beneficial phytochemicals. Grape juice has been tested in a small number of trials for outcomes including endurance exercise capacity, antioxidant potential, and memory.

Grape Juice is most often used for

Summary

How does grape juice compare to wine or grapes, for health benefits?

There haven't been trials directly comparing wine to grape juice (outside of studies in animals such as hamsters[1]), so the comparitive benefits are theoretical. Grape juice is different enough from grapes, due to lack of fiber and consequent effects on gut bacteria and other factors, that the results of whole grape trials aren't transferable to grape juice.

Wine contains alcohol (duh!), and alcohol in moderate amounts may help relax blood vessels and increase HDL.[2] Wine also has higher amounts of certain phytochemicals than grape juice does, but similar amounts of other ones.

It doesn't appear that grape juice reduces blood sugar, insulin, blood pressure, or improved lipids. However, one study that used a highly concentrated juice was more likely to find benefits, so perhaps it's a dosing issue. There are a variety of studies, largely sponsored by a large juice company, that have explored other areas of health, and the results are so far inconclusive.

It's important to note that there are very very few trials on grape juice, compared to on wine. So the reliability of the total body of evidence is somewhat low.

How does grape juice compare to wine, for health DETRIMENTS?

Grape juice doesn't contain alcohol. Consuming alcohol in moderate amounts can turn into consuming alcohol in large amounts, whether chronically or even on occasion.

Even in moderate amounts over time, alcohol may not be that healthy. Some researchers believe the evidence for benefits is mixed enough, and potential detriment large enough, that health benefits should not be trumpeted.[3][4]

Grape juice however, and fruit juices in general, are linked to tooth erosion and dental carries.[5] However, the trials on this typically use conditions that don't fully reflect real-life juice drinking. Grape juice in amounts that are clinically effective may also contribute excessive calories into your diet, as juices are much easier to consume than whole fruits.[6]

What type of grape juice is used in clinical trials?

Often but not always purple grape juice, at 100% purity (in other words, not mixed fruit juice, or sugar-added juice). Occasionally, white grape juice is used.

How does grape juice compared to other fruit juices for health benefits?

In general, sufficient trials haven't been conducted which compare different fruit juices against each other. There are a limited number of studies, such as one finding no difference between grape juice and apple juice[7] and one finding benefits of grape juice over orange or grapefruit juice[8]. But these were for highly specific outcomes rather than practical health benefits. Much more research is needed. We'd love to know how juices compare, but the financial incentive isn't there for companies to fund studies pitting juices against each other.

All that being said, grape juice doesn't appear to help memory and cognition quite like blueberry juice can. Unfortunately for the consumer, blueberry juice is much more expensive than grape juice.

What else is Grape Juice known as?
Grape Juice should not be confused with:
  • wine
  • resveratrol
  • grape sugar
Dosage information

First, make sure you use 100% grape juice, rather than a juice with added sugar or other juices mixed in.

There are relatively few trials on grape juice, so the "best" dose isn't yet determined. Commonly used doses varied from around 16-24 ounces of juice a day.

Examine Database: Grape Juice
What works and what doesn't?

Unlock the full potential of Examine

Get started

Don't miss out on the latest research

References
  1. ^Vinson JA, Teufel K, Wu NRed wine, dealcoholized red wine, and especially grape juice, inhibit atherosclerosis in a hamster modelAtherosclerosis.(2001 May)
  2. ^De Oliveira E Silva ER, Foster D, McGee Harper M, Seidman CE, Smith JD, Breslow JL, Brinton EAAlcohol consumption raises HDL cholesterol levels by increasing the transport rate of apolipoproteins A-I and A-IICirculation.(2000 Nov 7)
  3. ^Meister KA, Whelan EM, Kava RThe health effects of moderate alcohol intake in humans: an epidemiologic reviewCrit Rev Clin Lab Sci.(2000 Jun)
  4. ^Burton R, Sheron NNo level of alcohol consumption improves healthLancet.(2018 Sep 22)
  5. ^Liska D, Kelley M, Mah E100% Fruit Juice and Dental Health: A Systematic Review of the LiteratureFront Public Health.(2019 Jul 12)
  6. ^Flood-Obbagy JE, Rolls BJThe effect of fruit in different forms on energy intake and satiety at a mealAppetite.(2009 Apr)
  7. ^Blair CK, Kelly AS, Steinberger J, Eberly LE, Napurski C, Robien K, Neglia JP, Mulrooney DA, Ross JAFeasibility and preliminary efficacy of the effects of flavanoid-rich purple grape juice on the vascular health of childhood cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled crossover trialPediatr Blood Cancer.(2014 Dec)
  8. ^Keevil JG, Osman HE, Reed JD, Folts JDGrape juice, but not orange juice or grapefruit juice, inhibits human platelet aggregationJ Nutr.(2000 Jan)
Examine Database References
  1. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Park YK, Lee SH, Park E, Kim JS, Kang MHChanges in antioxidant status, blood pressure, and lymphocyte DNA damage from grape juice supplementationAnn N Y Acad Sci.(2009 Aug)
  2. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Dohadwala MM, Hamburg NM, Holbrook M, Kim BH, Duess MA, Levit A, Titas M, Chung WB, Vincent FB, Caiano TL, Frame AA, Keaney JF Jr, Vita JAEffects of Concord grape juice on ambulatory blood pressure in prehypertension and stage 1 hypertensionAm J Clin Nutr.(2010 Nov)
  3. Weight - Park YK, Kim JS, Kang MHConcord grape juice supplementation reduces blood pressure in Korean hypertensive men: double-blind, placebo controlled intervention trialBiofactors.(2004)
  4. Blood Pressure - Neto MM, da Silva TF, de Lima FF, Siqueira TMQ, Toscano LT, de Moura SKMSF, Silva ASWhole Red Grape Juice Reduces Blood Pressure at Rest and Increases Post-exercise HypotensionJ Am Coll Nutr.(2017 Sep-Oct)
  5. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - O'Byrne DJ, Devaraj S, Grundy SM, Jialal IComparison of the antioxidant effects of Concord grape juice flavonoids alpha-tocopherol on markers of oxidative stress in healthy adultsAm J Clin Nutr.(2002 Dec)
  6. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Castilla P, Echarri R, Dávalos A, Cerrato F, Ortega H, Teruel JL, Lucas MF, Gómez-Coronado D, Ortuño J, Lasunción MAConcentrated red grape juice exerts antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and antiinflammatory effects in both hemodialysis patients and healthy subjectsAm J Clin Nutr.(2006 Jul)
  7. DNA Damage - Rowe CA, Nantz MP, Nieves C Jr, West RL, Percival SSRegular consumption of concord grape juice benefits human immunityJ Med Food.(2011 Jan-Feb)
  8. Uric Acid - Toscano LT, Tavares RL, Toscano LT, Silva CS, Almeida AE, Biasoto AC, Gonçalves Mda C, Silva ASPotential ergogenic activity of grape juice in runnersAppl Physiol Nutr Metab.(2015 Sep)
  9. Weight - Hollis JH, Houchins JA, Blumberg JB, Mattes RDEffects of concord grape juice on appetite, diet, body weight, lipid profile, and antioxidant status of adultsJ Am Coll Nutr.(2009 Oct)
  10. Blood Pressure - Siasos G, Tousoulis D, Kokkou E, Oikonomou E, Kollia ME, Verveniotis A, Gouliopoulos N, Zisimos K, Plastiras A, Maniatis K, Stefanadis CFavorable effects of concord grape juice on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in healthy smokersAm J Hypertens.(2014 Jan)
  11. Blood Pressure - Blair CK, Kelly AS, Steinberger J, Eberly LE, Napurski C, Robien K, Neglia JP, Mulrooney DA, Ross JAFeasibility and preliminary efficacy of the effects of flavanoid-rich purple grape juice on the vascular health of childhood cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled crossover trialPediatr Blood Cancer.(2014 Dec)
  12. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - Chou EJ, Keevil JG, Aeschlimann S, Wiebe DA, Folts JD, Stein JHEffect of ingestion of purple grape juice on endothelial function in patients with coronary heart diseaseAm J Cardiol.(2001 Sep 1)
  13. Platelet Aggregation - Keevil JG, Osman HE, Reed JD, Folts JDGrape juice, but not orange juice or grapefruit juice, inhibits human platelet aggregationJ Nutr.(2000 Jan)
  14. Interleukin 8 - Albers AR, Varghese S, Vitseva O, Vita JA, Freedman JEThe antiinflammatory effects of purple grape juice consumption in subjects with stable coronary artery diseaseArterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol.(2004 Nov)
  15. Insulin - Krikorian R, Nash TA, Shidler MD, Shukitt-Hale B, Joseph JAConcord grape juice supplementation improves memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairmentBr J Nutr.(2010 Mar)
  16. Insulin - Krikorian R, Boespflug EL, Fleck DE, Stein AL, Wightman JD, Shidler MD, Sadat-Hossieny SConcord grape juice supplementation and neurocognitive function in human agingJ Agric Food Chem.(2012 Jun 13)
  17. Memory - Haskell-Ramsay CF, Stuart RC, Okello EJ, Watson AWCognitive and mood improvements following acute supplementation with purple grape juice in healthy young adultsEur J Nutr.(2017 Dec)
  18. Aerobic Exercise Metrics - de Lima Tavares Toscano L, Silva AS, de França ACL, de Sousa BRV, de Almeida Filho EJB, da Silveira Costa M, Marques ATB, da Silva DF, de Farias Sena K, Cerqueira GS, da Conceição Rodrigues Gonçalves MA single dose of purple grape juice improves physical performance and antioxidant activity in runners: a randomized, crossover, double-blind, placebo studyEur J Nutr.(2019 Nov 15)
  19. Erections - Spettel S, Chughtai B, Feustel P, Kaufman A, Levin RM, De EA prospective randomized double-blind trial of grape juice antioxidants in men with lower urinary tract symptomsNeurourol Urodyn.(2013 Mar)