The purpose of this study is to determine whether taking grape seed extract prior to eating a high fat meal will reduce the inflammatory response in people with the metabolic syndrome.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether taking grape seed extract prior to eating a high fat meal will reduce the inflammatory response in people with the metabolic syndrome. If this extract is shown to mitigate the inflammatory response induced by a high fat meal, it could potentially aid in postponing of the diagnosis of diabetes or other chronic diseases associated with high levels of inflammation.

Inclusion Criteria:

The metabolic syndrome will be diagnosed on the basis of having a combination of any 3 of the following factors:

1. Waist circumference of ≥ 40 inches (men) or ≥ 35 inches (women)
2. Elevated triglycerides ≥150mg/dl
3. HDL cholesterol of < 40mg/dl (men) or < 50mg/dl (women)
4. Elevated blood pressure of ≥ 130/85mmHg
5. Fasting glucose of > 100mg/dL

Exclusion criteria:

• Smokers
• Female subjects who are pregnant or lactating
• Subjects taking any medications that would interfere with outcomes of the study i.e. lipid lowering medications, anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e. ibuprofen), dietary supplements
• Subjects with any known allergy or intolerance to foods involved in the study (cantaloupe, egg, dairy, wheat, grape seed extract)
• Subjects who are actively trying to lose weight
• Subjects with unusual dietary habits (i.e. pica, anorexia nervosa, extreme food restriction, binging and/or purging disorders)
• Subjects who are addicted to drugs or alcohol or who are <1 year recovery program
• Subjects who present with significant psychiatric or neurological disturbances as determined by the primary investigator (i.e. uncontrolled bipolar disorder)
• Subjects with documented atherosclerotic disease, inflammatory disease, diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension (≥ 140/90mmHg), liver and kidney disease as identified by routine blood tests (chemistry panels). These subjects will be referred to their primary care doctor for further care.