Resveratrol and grapeseed are two grape-related dietary supplements with potential use in the treatment of conditions such as heart disease, insufficient blood flow and cancer. While grapeseed has a long history of medicinal use, resveratrol is a newer substance, with effects that have been observed more frequently in laboratory animals than in human beings.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol belongs to a group of compounds called stilbenes, according to Oregon State University. When certain plants are exposed to injury or other forms of stress, they form resveratrol and other types of stilbenes. Examples of resveratrol-containing plants include grapes, peanuts and some species of berries. Grape products such as red wine and grape juice also contain the compound. Resveratrol may also be contained in supplements from sources that include red grape extracts, red wine extracts and extracts of a root called Polygonum cuspidatum, reports Oregon State University.
Grapeseed
Grapeseed contains concentrated amounts of antioxidant substances called flavonoids and oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes, or OPCs, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). It also contains vitamin E and an omgega-6 fatty acid called linoleic acid. While traditional use of grapes centered on consumption of whole grapes or seeds, dietary supplements now typically contain standardized amounts of grapeseed extract. Supplements can come in forms that include liquid extracts, capsules and tablets.
Resveratrol Uses
MayoClinic.com lists potential uses of resveratrol that include reduction of harmful LDL blood cholesterol, prevention of blood clot formation and prevention of blood vessel injury. The presence of resveratrol may also inhibit the growth of a number of cancers, states Oregon State University, including cancers of the prostate, breast, colon, pancreas, thyroid, stomach, esophagus and intestines. However, most of the positive results for resveratrol come from laboratory studies, not human testing. To equal the amount of the compound used in some studies, you would need to drink between 100 and 1,000 bottles of wine every day.
Grapeseed Uses
If you have a circulatory disorder called chronic venous insufficiency, grapeseed may help reduce your symptoms, the UMMC reports. It can also reduce the severity of a form of swelling called edema. Other potential uses for grapeseed include treatment of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cancers of the lungs, breast, colon, prostate or stomach. However, as is true for resveratrol, many of the positive results from these potential uses stem from animal studies rather than real-world human application.
Considerations
Resveratrol is generally safe for human consumption and typically causes no side effects, notes Oregon State University. However, the safety of the compound has not been fully established for pregnant or lactating women, or for women with estrogen-influenced cancers. While you can give your child grapes, you should not give a child grapeseed extract, warns the UMMC. Theoretically, both resveratrol and grapeseed can alter the effects of anticoagulant medications such as aspirin or warfarin.
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