**Post by Puya Yazdi, MD , Medical Director for Cyvex Nutrition

Have you heard about the benefits of tannins? Tannins are naturally-occurring, bitter-tasting polyphenols found in the bark, leaves, and immature fruit of most species of plants.  Tannins are also abundant in red wine.  The bitterness of tannins is a defense mechanism in plants to produce an astringent taste when consumed, the same dry, puckery feeling in the mouth when one eats unripened fruit or drinks red wine. Furthermore, the chemical modification and destruction of tannins over time plays an important role in the ripening of fruit and the aging of wine. As antioxidants, tannins in red wine are well recognized for their therapeutic effect; however, they are also prevalent in the not-so-well- known quebracho tree of Argentina and Paraguay.  Quebracho extract actually has higher levels of procyanidins than Maritime Pine bark extract or any grape seed extract on the market. In fact, the ORAC value (measure of antioxidant potential) of quebracho extract is almost twice that of Maritime Pine bark extract or any grape seed extract available. Hence, quebracho extract can play a very powerful role in nutritional supplementation as a potent source of tannins.

First, the power of the quebracho bark extract comes from its natural antioxidant capacity. Antioxidants are compounds that bind with and destroy free radicals, reducing oxidative damage to cells. By doing so, antioxidants can slow down negative effects of certain health conditions that result from cellular damage, and perhaps even slow down the natural aging process. Oxidative stress has been linked to a host of processes including but not limited to aging, atherosclerosis, ischemic injury, inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.*

Tannins have also been shown to have great promise as an intestinal anti-inflammatory agent. The anti-inflammatory effects of tannins help control various forms of intestinal problems including irritating bowel disorders. For instance, tannins can help with diarrhea through its anti-inflammatory properties in the small intestine. Furthermore, they may help with maintaining the proper bacteria content of your bowels, as recent research has shown that they possess potential antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic effects. In addition, some of these same therapeutic properties also help maintain normal kidney function.*

Tannins in the form of procyanidins have aroused considerable interest recently because of their potential beneficial effects in preventing cardiovascular disease. Recent epidimeologic studies have shown that procyanidins are linked with a reduction in various cardiovascular disease risk factors. This has been confirmed with animal studies that have demonstrated tannins have a strong cardioprotective potential, as they showed decreased plasma cholesterol and reductions in the extent of plaque buildup in arteries, the two main mechanisms that lead to heart attacks.*

Finally, tannins may help lower glucose levels by delaying intestinal glucose absorption and by mimicking insulin activity on the tissues in the body that are the most sensitive to it. Tannins may also help maintain healthy oxidant levels in the pancreas.* While much more work needs to be done on all the potential health benefits of quebracho extract, it is clear that the tannins (procyanidins) may be beneficial in nutritional supplements and toward maintaining proper health.

References:

Serrano, J., Puupponen-Pimiä, R., Dauer, A., Aura, A.-M., Saura-Calixto, F., Tannins: Current knowledge of food sources, intake, bioavailability and biological effects. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2009, 53, S310–S329.

Bajaj, Y. P. S. (1988). Medicinal and aromatic plants.Biotechnology in agriculture and forestry. 24. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

Akiyama H, Fujii K, Yamasaki O, Oono T, Iwatsuki K (October 2001). “Antibacterial action of several tannins against Staphylococcus aureus”. J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 48 (4): 487–91.

Kolodziej H, Kiderlen AF (September 2005). “Antileishmanial activity and immune modulatory effects of tannins and related compounds on Leishmaniaparasitised RAW 264.7 cells”.Phytochemistry 66 (17): 2056–71. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2005.01.011.

Nobre-Junior, Helio V. et al. (2007). “Neuroprotective Actions of Tannins from Myracrodruonurundeuva on 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Neuronal Cell Death”. Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants (Haworth Press) 13 (2).

Souza, S. M. C. et al.; Aquino, LC; MilachJr, AC; Bandeira, MA; Nobre, ME; Viana, GS (2006). “Antiinflammatory and antiulcer properties of tannins from MyracrodruonurundeuvaAllemão (Anacardiaceae) in Rodents”.Phytotherapy Research (John Wiley & Sons) 21 (3): 220–225.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Author’s bio:  Puya Yazdi, MD, Medical Director for Cyvex Nutrition, has nearly six years of experience in the medical and scientific fields in addition to working in the business sector as an advisor and consultant. He holds an MD degree from The University of Southern California and a BS degree from the University of California, Irvine in Biological Sciences. Puya underwent medical and scientific training at Stanford University and is currently undergoing further training at UC Irvine.

You’ve seen this on labels and literature and in the trade and consumer media. For those who don’t quite cotton to high-tech science, we can help you get a clear grasp of how this score demonstrates the viability of the antioxidant when it’s in vivo (you).

ORAC was created by physician and chemist Dr. Guohua Cao to essentially quantify strength/viability of individual antioxidants all grouped together in a vast class. ORAC is an acronym for “Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity” which is determined by test tube analysis that shows its strength in its ability to neutralize (eliminate) oxygen free radicals. The higher the score, the stronger its ability; it is usually expressed as “XXXX (number) micromoles TE per gram.” Keep in mind that oxygen radicals are biochemicals formed inside the body through the process of oxidation – look no further than how quickly the flesh of a cut apple turns brown – that’s oxidation. Another easy example is rust on metal.

Obviously, the higher the score, the more free-radical fighting ability the antioxidant has. Consuming the typical “five-a-day” of fruits and vegetables would give a total ORAC score of 1750 units and it will not harm to double or treble that unit each day. In fact, experts suggest that consuming about 5,000 units a day will have a significant positive impact on plasma and tissue antioxidant levels.

The ORAC system gives consumers an easy benchmark for selection and shows a scientific standardization. The nutritional products manufacturing industry continues to become more and more standardized, which translates into reliable quality for the consumer; ORAC is the antioxidant standard.