Grape juice: Same heart benefits as wine?

Does grape juice offer the same heart benefits as red wine?

- Deborah / Florida

Mayo Clinic cardiologist Martha Grogan, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Probably. There is evidence that drinking red wine may reduce your risk of heart disease. This benefit is most likely due to a substance called resveratrol found in the skin and seeds of grapes — especially dark red and purple grapes. Resveratrol is also found in grape juice — especially juice made from the dark purple Concord grapes.

Recent studies have suggested that red and purple grape juices may provide the same heart-healthy benefits of red wine, including:

Reducing the risk of blood clots
Reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol
Preventing damage to blood vessels in your heart
Helping maintain a healthy blood pressure

Both red wine and grape juice also contain antioxidants called flavonoids, which have been shown to increase your high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol and lower your risk of clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), and may help lower blood pressure.

These findings on grape juice are good news for people who want the cardiovascular benefits of red wine without the alcohol.