Grape Consumption Alters Skin Gene Expression and Enhances UV Resistance

Research involving daily intake of grapes has demonstrated changes in gene expression within the skin, suggesting enhanced resistance to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Earlier clinical trials indicated that consuming grapes improved UV defense in 30% to 50% of participants, but recent findings show these effects may extend to almost everyone.

The study, published in ACS Nutrition Science, involved volunteers consuming the equivalent of three servings of whole grapes each day over a two-week period. Researchers assessed gene expression in the skin before and after grape consumption, both with and without exposure to low-level UV radiation.

Grape Intake Influences Skin Gene Activity

At the outset, each participant exhibited unique gene expression patterns in their skin. These patterns shifted following the grape consumption period and also altered after UV exposure. When combining grape intake with UV radiation, additional gene expression changes were observed. Despite individual variability, all participants showed modifications in gene activity linked to grape consumption.

These results indicate that grapes may affect biological pathways related to skin protection and repair mechanisms.

Enhanced Skin Barrier and Lower Oxidative Stress

Analysis of genetic data revealed increased keratinization and cornification processes, which contribute to forming the skin’s outer protective barrier and improving defense against environmental stressors. Furthermore, the study measured malondialdehyde levels, a marker of oxidative stress, after exposing skin to low doses of UV radiation.

Participants who consumed grapes exhibited reduced malondialdehyde levels, implying a decrease in oxidative stress following UV exposure.

Experts Highlight Grapes as a Nutrigenomic Superfood

John Pezzuto, Ph.D., Professor and Dean at Western New England University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, stated, “We are now certain that grapes act as a superfood and mediate a nutrigenomic response in humans.” He emphasized that the study focused on the skin, the body’s largest organ, where gene expression changes reflected improved skin health.

Pezzuto added that grape consumption likely influences gene expression in other body tissues such as liver, muscle, kidney, and brain. “This helps us to understand how consumption of a whole food, in this case grapes, affects our overall health,” he said, noting the significance of applying functional genomics in the post-genomics era to visualize complex nutrigenomic responses.

Study Details and Funding

The research titled “Inter- and Intraindividual Variation of Gene Expression in Human Skin Following Grape Consumption and/or Exposure to Ultraviolet Irradiation” was authored by Asim Dave, Sumi Piya, Dana-Lynn T. Koomoa, Ingo Lange, Jaewoo Choi, Richard B. van Breemen, and John M. Pezzuto. It was published on 13 May 2026 in ACS Nutrition Science with DOI: 10.1021/acsnutrsci.6c00003.

The investigation was conducted by teams from Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts, and Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Funding was provided by the California Table Grape Commission.