Ragle Human Nutrition Center

Grapes

for Gut and Heart Health

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the impact of table grape consumption on gut microbiome, intestinal permeability, systemic inflammation, and vascular function in healthy overweight men and women aged 45-70 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does daily grape intake alter intestinal microbiome composition and intestinal permeability? * Are changes in gut microbiota and intestinal permeability correlated with changes in cardiometabolic risk factors (inflammation, vascular function, lipid profiles)? * Does response to grape intake on gut microbiota, intestinal permeability, cardiometabolic and inflammatory markers differ between men and women? * Are metabolic pathways modified by grape consumption able to explain the link between gut health and cardiometabolic factors? Researchers will compare freeze-dried grape powder to placebo powder to see if grape powder improves cardiometabolic risk factors. Participants will * Consume the powder dissolved in water twice daily for 3 weeks * Follow their usual diet, modified to limit polyphenol-rich foods * Visit the clinic at the beginning and end of the intervention for vascular measurements and blood sample collection * Complete a 3-day 24-hour dietary recall and collect stool sample before each visit