Grape seed extract – healthy or not?

Consuming a handful of grapes or drinking a glass of wine made from this fruit is scientifically known to have certain health benefits.  But what about taking grape seed extract?  Grape seed extract is derived from the ground-up seeds of red wine grapes.  For thousands of years, grapes along with their leaves and sap have been used in traditional medicine from treating poor circulation to nerve damage.  Here in the U.S., the use of grape seed extract is beginning to be used in the treatment of various conditions as more scientific evidence is beginning to emerge on grape seed extract’s extensive and potential health benefits.

Why take grape seed extract?

One of the reasons why grape seed extract is gaining in popularity is because of it being extremely rich in antioxidants and oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes.  Due to these substances, the extract has been linked to a wide range of possible therapeutic benefits:

·      Cardiovascular benefits – There is strong evidence that grape seed extract is beneficial for a number of heart-related conditions.  From blood pressure, vascular protection to improving the physical and psychological symptoms of menopause while increasing muscle mass and reducing blood pressure in middle-aged women, this substance appears to be quite effective in treating heart disease.

·      Wound healing – Grape seed extract has the potential to increase the speed that wounds heal.  Proanthocyanidins found in grape seed extract trigger the release of vascular endothelial growth factor helping to improve increased cell density and increased deposition of connective tissue at wound sites.  In addition, grape seed extract has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that are effective in wound healing. 

·      Preventing skin cancer – The proanthocyanidins also appear to be useful in preventing the development of skin cancer tending to act as photochemoprotective agents when used in combination with sunscreens.  Studies have shown that skin cells pretreated with grape seed extract had increased cell viability compared to skin cells exposed to ultraviolet light that were not pretreated.  These same skin cells also had significantly less photolesions and a significant reduction in apoptosis of the cells. 

·      Preventing cognitive decline – Grape seed extracts’ very high concentration of proanthocyanidins are believed to be effective in possibly playing a role in preventing cognitive decline.  Several studies have looked at the potential of this extract in halting Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with a 2010 study showing the potential benefit of grape seed extract as a preventative and/or therapeutic agent for AD.  This was based on grape seed extracts chemical composition, bioactivity, bioavailability, safety, and tolerability in which it interferes with AD pathogenesis.

·      Combatting periodontal disease – Once again, thanks to the proanthocyanidin concentration found in grape seed extract, studies have shown this powerful antioxidant has 20-50 times the potency of vitamin C and E.  For periodontal disease, it prevents the bacteria from colonizing.  This is important as the colonization of bacteria are biofilms which are aggravated colonies of bacteria which have been linked to many systemic disease, of which periodontal disease is one of them. 

·      Other possible benefits associated with grape seed extract include:

·      Improving night vision

·      Improving rheumatoid arthritis

·      Treating diabetic retinopathy and improving blood sugar control

·      Relieving symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency

·      Anti-aging properties (protecting collagen and elastin)

Is there a recommended dose amount for grape seed extract?

At this time there is no firm established dose recommended for grape seed extract.  Studies conducted on grape seed extract have used doses between 100-300 milligrams a day but until further studies have a better idea of what is a safe, optimal amount to take, it is not known what the highest safe dose is.

Side effects and precautions

Like with any type of nutritional supplement, there is always the risk of side effects necessitating precaution when using them.  Grape seed extract is generally considered safe but some individuals may experience side effects that include headache, sore throat, itchy scalp, dizziness, nausea, and stomach ache. 

Anyone who is allergic to grapes should not use grape seed extract.  It is important to talk to your doctor before taking this supplement as it can affect the way certain medications are broken down in the liver or if you have high blood pressure.  According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, grape seed extract may act as a blood thinner, and could increase the risk of bleeding if taken with other blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix) or aspirin.

It could also interact negatively with certain heart medications, cancer treatments and NSAID painkillers such as Advil or Aleve. 

Grape seed extract is not recommended for children or for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.  Keep in mind also that grape seed oil does not contain the beneficial proanthocyanidins found in grape seed extract.