Skin powder protects body from radiation damage, study shows

LEWISVILLE, N.C. Muscadine grape skin powder, from Muscadine Naturals, provided significant protection against radiation damage in an independent study conducted on mice, the company announced Monday. The finding was reported in April 2009 at the 100th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, in Denver, Colo.

The results were reported by Ronald Carsten, who led the studies investigating the preventative effects of Muscadine grape skin powder on irradiated mice. The mice consumed the powder two days before radiation and showed significantly improved radiation protection when compared to mice that received no powder.

Carsten also compared the effects of the Muscadine grape skin powder with pure resveratrol, which also showed evidence of protection.

The discovery may be applied to cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, Carsten suggested.