Grape Seed Oil & LDL

Controlling your blood cholesterol levels is an important part of preventing cardiovascular disease. A heart-healthy diet includes foods that help you decrease your low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. Replacing unhealthy solid fats with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat, such as grape seed oil, is a step in the right direction. According to CBS News, grape seed oil also has a higher smoke point than olive oil, making it better for cooking. Food-grade grape seed oil has a light taste that does not overpower other flavors.

Facts

Numerous varieties of grapes grow throughout much of the world. The oil yield varies by type of grape and ranges from 6 to 21 percent. Sweet grapes grown for winemaking have the highest yield, and black grapes have the lowest oil yield, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Oil processors mainly use solvents, such as carbon dioxide, to extract oil from grape seeds.

Constituents

Grape seed oil has four fatty acids. The type of grape and the extraction process determine the amount of each in the final product. The linoleic acid content ranges from 45 to 72 percent. Linoleic acid is an omega-6 essential fatty acid that your body cannot manufacture. The oleic acid content is between 12 and 33 percent. Palmitic acid content ranges from 4 to 11 percent and, stearic acid may be 2.5 to 5 percent, according to the FAO. Drugs.com notes that grape seed oil also contains large amounts of tocopherol and polyphenols. Both are antioxidants that may reverse damage caused by saturated fat in your diet.

Benefits

Grape seed oil is low in unsaturated fat. The State University of New York says that unsaturated fats help you lower your LDL cholesterol. Clemson University notes that the linoleic acid content of grape seed oil is possibly the main element that makes it effective for decreasing your LDL cholesterol. However, linoleic acid also lowers high density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol.

Consuming grape seed oil may have a positive effect on both LDL and HDL cholesterol. F. Asadi and colleagues reported in the August-September 2010 issue of "Food and Chemical Toxicology" that grape seed oil lowered LDL cholesterol in an animal study conducted over 10 weeks. To date, no conclusive human studies support the use of grape seed oil to reduce LDL cholesterol.

Considerations

Like any other oil, grape seed oil contains 120 calories per 1 tbsp. Despite any potential benefits, adding it to your diet increases your daily calorie intake. To avoid weight gain, use grape seed oil as a replacement for some of your other fat calories.

Warnings

Grape seed essential oil and grape seed extract are not the same as grape seed oil. Drugs.com points out that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated the safety or purity of commercially produced grape seed oil. The main consideration is whether the oil is pure enough for human consumption. Consult a health care professional before you use grape seed oil as a home remedy for elevated LDL cholesterol.