• Both muscadine and elderberry contain a high amount of polyphenols associated with immune support, and extract from both fruits are shown to exhibit similar activity in the body.

• There are various sources of dark berries. The nutrients from muscadine grapes are in food-bound form, which generally means they’re bioavailable and better absorbed into cells.

• A review of testing data on elderberry and muscadine revealed that muscadine is up to 3 times richer in polyphenols compared to elderberry (see chart below). As a result, muscadine could exert a greater effect than elderberry for immune support.

• Muscadine is one of the few fruits found to exert a balancing (or homeostatic) effect that starts in the engines of your cells – in the mitochondria. In particular, resveratrol which is abundant in muscadine is known to reduce oxidative stress and stimulate mitochondrial function through SIRT1 (sirtuin) activity. Sirtuins are proteins in cells that help to increase the longevity of mitochondria and cells, and increasing their levels in the body is thought to increase lifespan. Numerous studies suggest muscadine’s potential to support cellular function that can translate into benefits for cardiovascular health, brain function, digestion, immunity, men’s health and liver detoxification.

• The antioxidants in muscadines are also studied to improve physical and cognitive performance in younger people. For example, muscadine antioxidants are associated with an improved rate of recovery from inflammation from physical exertion. Recent research has shown how powerful muscadines are, as one of the most potent and diverse antioxidants found in fruits. Hence its nickname as the “Superfruit of the South”.

• Stilbenes such as resveratrol are thought to enhance the function of mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells. A 2019 study found that muscadine fruit extract enhances mitochondrial function and cellular bioenergetics in heart cells when they are stressed.