Grape Seed Extract supplement, benefit and side effects, dosage and review of research studies
Grape seeds are waste products of the winery and grape juice industry. Grape seed extract provides a concentrated source of polyphenols, most of which are proanthocyanidins.
Composition
Grape seeds contain lipid, protein, carbohydrates, and 5-8% polyphenols
depending on the variety. Polyphenols in are mainly flavonoids,
including gallic acid, the monomeric flavan-3-ols catechin, epicatechin,
gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, and epicatechin 3-O-gallate, and procyanidin
dimers, trimers, and more highly polymerized procyanidins. Grape seeds contains
mainly phenols such as proanthocyanidins (oligomeric proanthocyanidins).
purchase Grape Seed Extract supplement, 100 mg
A natural plant product made from the grape seed (or pip),
it is rich in procyanidins, a special class of water-soluble
bioflavonoids which are excellent free radical scavengers.
Supplement Facts
Grape Seed Extract - 100 mg (standardized to 95% polyphenols)
Suggested Use: 1 to 2 grape seed extract tablets a few times a week, or as recommended by your health
care professional.
Purchase Grape Seed extract product, high quality
Absorption and metabolism
Polymeric proanthocyanidins are poorly absorbed in the small intestine of
humans, and exposure may result from metabolism to phenolic acids by colonic
bacteria. Any biological effects of proanthocyanidins may be due to the phenolic
acid metabolites. Supplementation with grape seed polyphenols results in a
consistent increase in the excretion of 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid and
4-O-methylgallic acid and a less consistent increase in the excretion of
3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. 3-HPP is a major phenolic acid breakdown product of
proanthocyanidin metabolism in vivo.
Benefits
Grape seed extract is beneficial in many areas of health because of its
antioxidant effect to bond with collagen, promoting youthful skin, cell health,
elasticity, and flexibility. Proanthocyanidins help to protect the body from sun
damage, improve vision, improve flexibility in joints, arteries, and body
tissues such as the heart, and improve blood circulation by strengthening
capillaries, arteries, and veins.
Antioxidant benefit
The antioxidant power of proanthocyanidins is 20 times greater than vitamin E
and 50 times greater than vitamin C. The most abundant phenolic compounds
isolated from grape seed are catechins, epicatechin,
procyanidin, and some
dimers and trimers.
Human studies
Oral intake of proanthocyanidin-rich extract from grape
seeds improves chloasma.
Phytother Res. 2004; Yamakoshi J, Sano A. Research and Development Division, Kikkoman
Corporation, Noda City, Chiba, Japan.
Chloasma (melasma), an acquired hypermelanosis, is often recalcitrant to various
treatments and an amenable, as well as safe, pigment-reducing modality is
needed. We investigated that the reducing effect of proanthocyanidin, a powerful
antioxidant, on chloasma in a one-year open design study. Proanthocyanidin-rich
grape seed extract was orally administered to 12 Japanese women with chloasma
for 6 months. The first 6 months of grape seed extract intake improved or
slightly improved chloasma in 10 of the 12 women (83%) and following 5 months of
intake improved or slightly improved chloasma in 6 of the 11 candidates (54%).
Grape seed extract is effective in reducing the hyperpigmentation of women with
chloasma. The beneficial effects of grape seed extract was maximally achieved
after 6 months and these was no further improvement after this period. The
latter grape seed extract intake for 5 months may prevent chloasma from becoming
worse prior to the summer season. Grape seed extract is safe and useful for
improving chloasma.
Cholesterol
Beneficial effects of grape seed extract on
malondialdehyde-modified LDL.
J Nutr Sci Vitaminol 2007; Sano A. Research and Development Division, Kikkoman
Corporation, Chiba, Japan.
Following consecutive 12-wk administration of tablets containing 0, 200 or 400
mg grape seed extract (calculated as proanthocyanidin) to 61 healthy subjects
with LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of 100 to 180 mg/dL, effects of such
treatment compared to administration of placebo tablets on malondialdehyde-modified
LDL (MDA-LDL), representing one oxidized type of LDL, were investigated by a
single blind method. MDA-LDL level in the 200 mg (calculated as proanthocyanidin)
group was significantly reduced compared to the basal level, 12 wk after the
start of administration. In the 400 mg (calculated as proanthocyanidin) group, a
significant decrease in MDA-LDL level compared to the basal level was found 6
and 12 wk after the start of administration. In subjects demonstrating the least
body weight changes during the test period in the 400 mg group, there was an
increasing trend in adiponectin levels 12 wk after the start of treatment. These
results suggested that tablets containing grape seed extract exerted reducing
effects on oxidized LDL, and might be useful in preventing lifestyle-related
diseases such as arteriosclerosis.
Platelet effect
Platelet reactivity in male smokers following the acute
consumption of a flavanol-rich grapeseed extract.
J Med Food. 2007; Polagruto JA, Gross HB, Fujii H, Keen CL. Department of Family and Consumer Science, Sacramento
City College, Sacramento, CA, USA.
The present study assessed the effects of a flavanol-rich supplement on platelet
reactivity and plasma oxidant defense in a group of smokers, a population at an
elevated risk for vascular disease. Male smokers were randomly assigned to a
placebo or a flavanol-rich grapeseed extract group, and after an overnight fast,
blood samples were collected before and at 1, 2, and 6 hours following
consumption of the placebo or supplement. The grapeseed extract supplement, but
not the placebo, significantly decreased ADP-stimulated platelet reactivity
following intake compared to baseline levels. Similarly, the supplement, but not
the placebo, decreased epinephrine-stimulated platelet reactivity 2 hours
following consumption. Plasma antioxidant capacity (total radical trapping
antioxidant potential), lipid oxidation (plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive
substances), and serum uric acid concentrations were not affected in either
group. Thus smokers may obtain some health benefits from the consumption of
certain flavanol-rich foods, beverages, and supplements.
Radiation therapy
Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised phase II trial of IH636 grape seed
proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) in patients with radiation-induced breast
induration.
Radiother Oncol. 2006; Brooker S, Martin S, Pearson A, Hall E, Yarnold J. Department of Radiotherapy, Royal
Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
Tissue hardness (induration), pain and tenderness are common late adverse
effects of curative radiotherapy for early breast cancer. The purpose of this
study was to test the efficacy of IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract in
patients with tissue induration after high-dose radiotherapy for early breast
cancer in a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised phase II trial. Sixty-six
eligible research volunteers with moderate or marked breast induration at a mean
10 years since radiotherapy for early breast cancer were randomised to active
drug or placebo. All patients were given grape seed proanthocyanidin extract 100
mg three times a day orally, or corresponding placebo capsules, for 6 months. At
12 months post-randomisation, > or =50% reduction in surface area of breast
induration was recorded in 13/44 (29%) grape seed extract and 6/22 (27%) placebo
group patients. At 12 months post-randomisation, there was no significant
difference between treatment and control groups in terms of external assessments
of tissue hardness, breast appearance or patient self-assessments of breast
hardness, pain or tenderness. The study failed to show efficacy of
orally-administered grape seed proanthocyanidin extract in patients with breast
induration following radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Inquiries
Which is a more potent antioxidant, grape seed extract or
milk thistle extract silymarin?
These herbs have different substances which work in different
ways to offer health benefits, it is difficult to choose one over another, they
both have a role to play in health and medicine.
Are their any interactions of finasteride 1mg tablet, or
Proscar, Propecia, and grapeseed extract supplement 100 mg?
We have not seen studies regarding their use together.