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The initial hypothesis of the exploratory paper lies in the fact that there exists a demand for healthier wines due to the higher presence of natural compound which potentially bring benefits to the consumer’s health. To satisfy this hypothesis, the research questions that paper tried to answer are the following: Do there exist a demand for naturally resveratrol-enhanced wine? What variables do influence the preference of consumers toward a naturally resveratrol-enhanced wine? As a consequence, the purpose of this paper is to explore what variables naturally influence resveratrol-enhanced wine consumption.

A structured questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews to a sample of 250 regular wine consumers which were randomly selected to achieve balanced socio-demographic characteristics. Subsequently, an econometric analysis was performed to estimate the effects that selected attributes, extrapolated from the literature, have on resveratrol-enriched wine consumption. With this aim, a logistic regression model was developed through the assessment of willingness to consume naturally resveratrol-enhanced wine.

The findings of this paper suggest that respondents consider wine as source of beneficial and healthy properties and they are willing to consume enriched-resveratrol wine. The study found a direct correlation between resveratrol and wine extrinsic attributes (organic label, brand) as well as any intrinsic attributes (tannins content). In addition, solely female consumers expressed to consider label information in their preference for resveratrol-enhanced wine. Among socio-demographic factors, only age and gender have an interaction effect on the consumption of these wines.

Since this study has some limitations due to the limited number of observations and to the specific regional geographical context, the findings should be generalized in theoretical terms with a certain caution. Before to extend the results to all Italian consumers, future research should test the robustness of the findings by assessing the effect of the attributes that the authors have examined in this study in other environmental contexts, e.g. in other wine regions.

The results have important implications for wine producers, since the adoption of production practices explicitly related to the higher natural content of resveratrol can lead to a value augmentation and enhance business income of companies. Moreover, there exists implication also for wine managers, given the knowledge of factors affecting consumers’ attitudes toward naturally resveratrol-enhanced wines can lead to an increase in wine demand that should allow to reach a focused differentiation strategy in specified market segments. This suggests the need to indicate on the label the content of resveratrol as a distinctive signal of the “additional health information” of a wine.

While a substantial body of research has analyzed the healthy attributes that affect purchasing process of wine, no other known study has examined the effects of attributes on consumers’ willingness to purchase naturally resveratrol-enhanced wine. The study is the first that explores the consumers’ willingness to buy wine naturally enriched with resveratrol. Previous works took into account only resveratrol-enriched wines. The authors believe that in the eye of consumers there are significant differences between a natural enhancement and a simply technological enrichment, since the concepts and the technological aspects behind the two processes are strongly different. To fill this gap, the authors explored for the first time what variables can influence the preference of a naturally resveratrol-enhanced wine.

This study aims to systematically review randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluated the effects of resveratrol on vascular flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

All published RCTs in English were systematically searched on PubMed and Scopus search engines up to October 2017. A total of 61 studies were found through search databases. The outcome variable of interest was FMD. Six articles which met inclusion criteria were included in this study.

From six studies, four showed a significant improvement in FMD after resveratrol supplementation acutely or chronically in subjects with cardio-metabolic risk factors. Two other studies did not show any significant effect of resveratrol on FMD.

The authors systematically reviewed the effectiveness of resveratrol supplementation on FMD for the first time. The findings suggest that pure resveratrol supplementation may have beneficial effects on endothelium dependent vasodilatation indicator, FMD.

Wine, fruits, vegetables and whole grains are the main products of a healthy diet. The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize the existence of an interesting and evocative bond among moderate intake of wine, health and well-being.

By means of a fuzzy cluster analysis, the authors try to investigate the existence of groups of regions similar in wine consumption, subjective well-being, health and social relations. The latter are expressed through composite indicators, built and developed by Istat within the Italy ESW project’s activities (equitable and sustainable well-being). The analysis also investigates how this link has evolved over time. Data are related to refer to the situations in 2010 and 2017 in 21 regions of Italy.

Results obtained in 2010 seem to confirm the hypothesis of the existence of a link among moderate wine consumption, hedonism well-being and health, and in addition, findings highlight the so-called North‒South gap, that is the strong differences and economic issues among the different areas of the country. Then, outcomes obtained for 2017 appear in line with 2010 results.

Several authors from medicine, economics and chemistry domain strongly suggest and demonstrate that regular and moderate intake of wine reduces the incidence of heart disease, diabetes mellitus and hormonal problems, and correlatively increases longevity. In this work, the authors develop further research step including the aspects related to personal well-being and social relations under the umbrella of a hedonism approach. Finally, results highlight the existence of an amazing tie among moderate intake of wine consumption, well-being and health.

Evaluation of the effect of yoghurts enriched with a complex of vegetable additives on the state of the antioxidant defense system, the content of triglycerides and cholesterol in rats exposed to toxic seeds with cadmium chloride. The purpose of this paper is evaluation of the effect of yoghurts enriched with a complex of vegetable additives on the state of the antioxidant defense system, the content of triglycerides and cholesterol in rats exposed to toxic cadmium chloride.

The studies were carried out on 72 male rats (Wistar), divided into six groups (n = 12): control, model of cadmium intoxication and receiving the developed dairy product, enriched with appropriate biologically active supplements (rosehip, rowan and hawthorn berries syrup and grape peel extract [rich in resveratrol]). Biochemical parameters of blood, homogenates of the liver and kidneys were analyzed.

The intensity of lipid peroxidation processes (in the liver, kidneys and erythrocytes) decreased in the group receiving dairy products enriched with berry syrups and grape peel extract (rich in resveratrol). The activity of catalase, total antioxidant activity and superoxide dismutase increased. In the groups receiving dairy products enriched with berry syrups, the total protein level in the blood increased, compared with Group 2. The content of triglycerides and cholesterol levels in groups receiving dairy products decreased significantly compared to animals intoxicated with cadmium chloride.

The topic of cadmium’s toxic effects on human and animal health and methods for solving this problem is very relevant.

This paper reviews the nutritional profile of peanuts and summarises recent evidence for their potential as a beneficial food for long‐term health. As such, a more constructive positioning for peanuts and peanut butter within the UK diet is proposed.

This paper aims to verify the effect of 12 weeks of grape juice (GJ) consumption associated with aerobic exercise on the variation of the hypertensive elderly pressure.

A total of 45 hypertensive elderly of both sexes were distributed into: control group (CG, n = 10), exercise group (EG, n = 10), juice group (JG, n = 12) and juice and exercise group (JEG, n = 13). Blood pressure and heart rate were checked weekly before exercise in JG and JEG, and before and after intervention in all groups, with JG and JEG supplemented with 200 mL of GJ. Three weekly sessions of moderate walking were applied.

There was a reduction in EG, JG and JEG for systolic pressure and diastolic only for JG and JEG. The GJ consumption to the practice of aerobic exercise provided reductions in the arterial pressure of hypertensive, in addition to stabilization of the diastolic pressure.

Although the objective of the study was to compare the effect and value of intervention with controls, the study had no intervention in food consumption, which could have led to more significant results. There was a limitation in the control drink, leading the study not to be blind, which may have impaired the results. However, it is probably not a bias, as the groups were divided by residence area, and therefore, had no direct contact with the other groups. Another limitation was that the sample size was still small, which would lead to more reliable results. Finally, although the existing limitations cannot be disregarded, the results of this research are very promising, especially when the objective is the effect of GJ and aerobic exercise on blood pressure, with the possibility of implementing supplemental GJ and the inclusion or not of exercise to the hypertensive elderly.

The paper deals with the benefits of GJ consumption associated with aerobic physical exercise on the blood pressure of elderly hypertensive patients. Considering that GJ along with physical exercise was enough to reduce the blood pressure of hypertensive elderly, this may be a new model to be used to reduce and/or control blood pressure, and GJ and the exercise to be part of the daily life of the population.

Consumption of muscadine grapes and their by‐products (e.g. skins, seeds, wine and juice) is often discussed in terms of their alleged health‐ related properties (e.g. high content of resveratrol, phenolics and antioxidants). Almost no information, however, is available from an academic perspective on consumers' association with this food, including their knowledge, actual consumption of muscadines or by‐products they associate with muscadine grapes. This study seeks to add to the limited existing knowledge on muscadine grapes and their by‐products exploring these areas.

A sample of consumers from a Southern US town, where muscadine grapes are native, was chosen. A total of 189 participated completing a questionnaire.

Overall, respondents indicated familiarity with muscadine grapes and by‐products (e.g. wine, jams, juice), but predominantly the more mature respondents related much more to those by‐products than the younger consumer groups. Concerning muscadine wines, while 56.6 per cent of respondents were familiar with this product, and 45.5 per cent considered their consumption experience satisfying to very satisfying, 67.7 per cent either never buy them or seldom do so, suggesting very limited attachment with muscadine grapes.

Choosing one single geographic location (a Southern US town) and the number of participants are two limitations of this study.

Given the importance of muscadine grapes and their by‐products for the Southern region, particularly culturally, traditionally and for consumers in general in terms of beneficial health‐related properties, an argument is made concerning the need to promote this ancient food. The role of the hospitality and tourism sector, government, agricultural and consumer groups is therefore suggested in promoting, marketing and other forms conducive to raising the profile of muscadine by‐products.

The study focuses on a food (muscadines) and environment (the Southern US region) that despite their cultural importance continue to be under‐researched – even ignored – by much of the contemporary consumer behaviour, hospitality and other literature.

The goal of this narrative review was to look at the link between the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the telomere length. Furthermore, this study aims to understand the impact of the MD on obesity-related telomere length.

Relevant literature was reviewed to explore the potential influence of the MD on telomere length and its association with obesity.

The MD is one of the healthiest diets of all known dietary patterns, and it is also linked to the telomere length. Except for fruits and vegetables, the main findings for other MD components are inconsistent. In terms of antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties, using the MD as a weight loss approach is a good method. For predicting changes in obesity characteristics, the initial telomere length is critical. However, there are not many studies in the field that have looked at the MD as a weight loss approach and its link to the telomere length. As a result, more research is needed to understand these connections in various groups.

This study is unique since it examines the MD, telomere length and obesity-related consequences. This study examines the MD, telomere length and obesity to determine if the MD can help lose weight while maintaining telomere length. As there are few studies on MD weight loss and telomere length, the work emphasizes the need for greater research in this area. This study fills a research gap and improves the understanding of nutrition, telomere biology and obesity-related outcomes.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of betanin on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and Sirtuin6 (SIRT6) gene expression as well as the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) cytokine release in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and healthy controls.

PBMCs isolated from whole blood of 50 patients with CAD and 48 healthy subjects aged 45 to 60 years were treated with 10 and 20 µM of betanin for 24 h. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess gene expression levels of AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT6. The supernatants of the cultured cells were used to assess the IL-6 and TNF-α protein levels by ELISA.

Treatment with both doses of betanin significantly increased AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT6 expression in PBMCs of CAD patients compared to control non-treated cells (p < 0.05). In PBMCs of healthy subjects, only treatment with high dose of betanin showed significant increase in AMPK (p = 0.007), SIRT1 (p = 0.013) and SIRT6 (p = 0.024) expression compared to control non-treated cells. Betanin (20 µM) also significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in the culture supernatants of the CAD patients compared to control non-treated cells (p < 0.001).

Betanin could enhance AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT6 gene expressions in PBMCs and represent a useful complementary treatment to reduce the proinflammatory status accompanied with CAD.

Muscadine (Vitis Rotundifolia Michx.) is a native vine that grows wild and that is also cultivated in the Southern USA. Today, many wineries located in this region produce and sell wines made of muscadine grapes. While much of contemporary research focuses on the many health properties of muscadine grapes, very little is known of muscadine wines from an entrepreneurial or operational perspective, including muscadine wines' marketing potential. This paper aims to investigate these areas, examining some of the challenges that Southern winery operators face in successfully marketing muscadine wines.

Using telephone interviews (29), coupled with two face‐to‐face interviews, data were collected among 31 winery owners located in different Southern states.

More than one‐third of respondents (11) considered dealing with consumer snobbery as the main challenge their wineries faced. Operators of this group argued that there appears to be a stigma attached to muscadine wines, particularly among many consumers who consider muscadine wines as inferior to Vitis Vinifera wines. In addition, eight participants mentioned consumers' lack of knowledge of muscadine wines as their main challenge. The prevalence of these two main challenges clearly suggests the need for consumer education if any images of inferiority in muscadine wines are to be dispelled.

The number of this study's participants (33) is limited and may not allow for making generalisations about muscadine winery operators.

The study explores a distinctive sector, namely, that of grapes and wines native to the Southern region. With growing interest in local products that, as in the case of muscadine grapes, also have a close association to healthy components (e.g. resveratrol, nutraceutical products), the study's findings may have important implications for the future marketing of muscadine wines and grapes.

To date muscadine wine entrepreneurship has received almost no attention from academic research, particularly as it relates to the areas of marketing, hospitality and tourism.