Abstract
Raisins are dried grapes consumed worldwide that contain beneficial components for human health. They are rich in fiber and phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds. Despite a 60% sugar content, several studies have reported health-promoting properties for raisins and this review compiles the intervention studies, as well as the cell line and animal model studies carried out to date. It has been demonstrated that raisins possess a low-to-moderate glycemic index, which makes them a healthy snack. They seem to contribute to a better diet quality and may reduce appetite. Their antioxidant capacity has been correlated to the phenolic content and this may be involved in the improvement of cardiovascular health. In addition, raisins maintain a good oral health due to their antibacterial activity, low adherence to teeth and an optimum oral pH. Raisin consumption also seems to be favorable for colon function, although more studies should be done to conclude this benefit. Moreover, gut microbiota could be affected by the prebiotic content of raisins. Cell line and animal model studies show other potential benefits in specific diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. However, deeper research is required and future intervention studies with humans are needed. Overall, incorporating an 80–90 g portion of raisins (half a cup) into the daily diet may be favorable for human health.
Highlights
Raisins are dried grapes mostly obtained from different cultivars of Vitis vinifera L. and are extensively consumed worldwide
Eating raisins may reduce hunger and affect dietary intake by altering hormones influencing satiety, diminishing the energy intake of the meal, which in turn could help to maintain a correct body weight. Their antioxidant capacity has been extensively demonstrated and correlated to the phenolic content, and this may be an indication of their potential to exert beneficial effects on human health, more scientific evidence in intervention studies is required
Due to their phenolic components and high fiber content, raisins may improve cardiovascular health parameters by increasing the plasma antioxidant capacity and lowering total and LDL cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure and molecules linked to inflammation response
Summary
Raisins are dried grapes mostly obtained from different cultivars of Vitis vinifera L. and are extensively consumed worldwide. Raisins are sweet as they consist of about 60% sugar, predominantly fructose and glucose [2], which gives rise to the common conception that they are unhealthy They are rich in dietary fiber (3.3–4.5 g per 100 g) (Table 1) [2,3], which contributes to their prebiotic effect [4,5], as they are selectively used by host microorganisms and confer a health benefit [6]. Other minor phytochemicals found in raisins are triterpenoids (oleanolic acid, oleanolic aldehyde, betulin and betulinic acid) [16] and tartaric acid, which works synergistically with fiber to maintain a healthy digestive system [17]. Despite not being considered as prestigious as human studies, they can reveal knowledge about molecular action mechanisms and prove an approximation for humans
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