Sponsored by
Leeds scientists ask: Can grape juice make you alert?
COULD a daily glass of grape juice make working mums more alert?
That’s the theory being investigated by a team of Leeds scientists.
They are enlisting participants for a study looking at whether the non-alcoholic juice can reduce stress, and boost alertness and concentration levels. Tests of driving skills in a simulator are among the ways the researchers, from the Human Appetite Research Unit at the University of Leeds, will test the impact of the juice.
It has already been linked to health benefits, thought to be because of its high concentrations of polyphenols which can reduce blood pressure and cut the risk of heart disease, and antioxidants.
Louise Dye, professor of nutrition and behaviour at the unit, said: “There is some evidence that regular consumption of grape juice can lead to health benefits such as lower blood pressure. This study is about finding out whether grape juice can have other benefits. For example, we think that the juice may help reduce levels of stress in women who juggle a hectic work and family schedule.”
To test whether it can help, the team are looking for busy, working mums to take part in their research.
Those accepted onto the study will be given grape juice which they will have to drink every day for two periods of 12 weeks, and to come to the university to take part in a driving task and mental performance tests on six occasions.
Dr Daniel Lamport, the research fellow working on the project, said: “We also want to find out whether the polyphenols in the grape juice can lead to improvements in tasks which require concentration and coordination, such as driving.”
For this the university’s state-of-the-art driving simulator will be used, the first time it has been involved in this kind of research.
Prof Dye said other mental tests only measured one cognitive ability, whereas driving used several.
“We are going to see if stress levels are reduced, whether it might make it easier to concentrate,” she added.
“We can measure things like how close people are to the kerb or white lines. Those are the sort of things where drivers start to drift if they are thinking about other things.”
Researchers are looking for women to take part in the study who must be non-smokers, aged 40 to 50, not pregnant, with at least one child younger than 13 years old, and who work 30 hours or more a week.
For details, contact Dr Lamport via juice@leeds.ac.uk or 0113 343 6694
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.