Muscadine wine: the potential elixir for younger-looking skin?

The quest for the fountain of youth has led scientists to various corners of the globe and the depths of myriad disciplines. A recent groundbreaking study from the University of Florida has offered a tantalizing possibility: nonalcoholic muscadine wine, an uncommon type of red wine, may promote younger-looking skin.

Muscadine, not to be confused with Muscat or Moscato, is a grape variety native to America that has been used for making wine since the 16th century.

The study, spearheaded by Lindsey Christman, Ph.D., and Liwei Gu, Ph.D., professor of food chemistry at the University of Florida, concluded that women who consumed two glasses of dealcoholized muscadine wine daily experienced heightened skin elasticity and increased water retention as compared to participants who ingested a placebo.

Dr. Christman elucidated their choice, stating, "We used dealcoholized muscadine wine because we were interested in the effect of the bioactive compounds in wine, specifically the polyphenols, on skin health."

Skin elasticity plays a vital role in preventing sagging, a common sign of aging. Moreover, water retention in the skin functions as a protective barrier against various types of damage.

The muscadine grape, indigenous to the Southeast, has been traditionally used in wine production. What sets it apart is its categorization as a "super fruit," attributed to its abundant polyphenols like anthocyanins, quercetin, and ellagic acid. These compounds are renowned for their capacity to mitigate inflammation and oxidative stress.

"Muscadine grapes have a distinctive polyphenolic profile compared to other red wine varieties," Christman emphasized.

For this pioneering research, 17 women, aged between 40 and 67, participated in a randomized clinical trial. They were given either two daily glasses of the dealcoholized muscadine wine or a placebo drink devoid of polyphenols but similar in taste and appearance.

The regimen lasted six weeks, followed by a two-week break. Subsequently, the participants switched to the opposite drink for another six-week cycle. Key metrics such as skin conditions, inflammation, and oxidative stress were recorded at the beginning and end of each six-week period.

The outcomes pointed to significant enhancements in skin elasticity and a reduction in surface water loss for those consuming muscadine wine. However, the drink did not markedly reduce wrinkles or significantly alter skin smoothness levels.

Commenting on the findings, Christman noted, "This crossover study showcased that a six-week course of dealcoholized muscadine wine consumption led to improvement in certain skin parameters linked to aging. This can be attributed to decreases in inflammation and oxidative stress."

Presentation and Further Research

The study's outcomes were presented at Nutrition 2023, the annual convention of the American Society for Nutrition held in Boston.

While the results are promising, researchers recommend a more extensive study with a diverse cohort to solidify their conclusions. A word of caution was also sounded. The benefits might not extrapolate to alcoholic muscadine wine, as the dealcoholization process can modify its chemical composition.

As the scientific community awaits further insights, this intriguing find reminds us that nature often hides its most precious treasures in the most unexpected places. The muscadine grape, with its rich polyphenolic profile, may just be the latest example.