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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Western Human Nutrition Research Center » Obesity and Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #397967
Research Project: Improving Public Health by Understanding Metabolic and Bio-Behavioral Effects of Following Recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Location: Obesity and Metabolism Research

Title: Chardonnay grape marc/grape seed extract blends improve postprandial triglycerides and/or HDL cholesterol concentrations in adults with mild dyslipidemia in a randomized double blinded crossover trial

Author
item LEE, FANNY - University Of California, Davis
item ARVIK, TOREY - Sonomaceuticals Llc
item Newman, John
item Keim, Nancy

Submitted to: Journal of Food Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2026
Publication Date: 3/26/2026
Citation: Lee, F., Arvik, T., Newman, J.W., Keim, N.L. 2026. Chardonnay grape marc/grape seed extract blends improve postprandial triglycerides and/or HDL cholesterol concentrations in adults with mild dyslipidemia in a randomized double blinded crossover trial. Journal of Food Science. 149:66-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2026.02.009.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2026.02.009

Interpretive Summary: Cardiovascular disease remains one of the top diseases in the United States that is possibly preventable by lifestyle changes. In this study an agricultural byproduct was used: Chardonnay marc, which is a combination of seeds and stems resulting from processing Chardonnay grapes in the wine making process. A product with high levels of marc resulted in increases of the 'good' HDL choesterol and decreases in triglycerides when added as a dietary supplement. A product with high levels of seed extract resulted in lowering of blood pressure. These results indicate that Chardonnay marc products may provide reduction of cardiovascular disease risk factos. This was the first study of these marc products that should be repeated in larger trials to confirm these results.

Technical Abstract: Atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is characterized by the hardening of arterial walls and is associated with cardiovascular events. There are numerous modifiable risk factors that may decrease the risk of ASCVD. Chardonnay marc is an underutilized agricultural product that remains rich in extractable and non-extractable nutrients. Twenty-four adults with mild dyslipidemia completed a 16-week randomized, double-blinded crossover trial, where 1500mg of either a high Chardonnay marc blend (HM), high Chardonnay seed extract blend (HE) or a control (MCC) capsule was consumed per 3-week intervention period. Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower following HE compared to HM. HDL-C concentrations were higher in HM an MCC compared to HE. Furthermore, there were lower numbers of large HDL particles following HE compared to MCC. Finally, postprandial triglyceride area under the curve was lower following HM compared to HE. These findings suggest that phenolics alone may not offer mitigation of ASCVD risk factors, but the nutrient complexity offered from the whole marc may have more potential in affecting modifiable risk factors.