Oil derived from the seeds of grapes, also called Vitis vinifera, might yield medicinal benefits. This natural supplement has be used for thousands of years by the Egyptians, Greeks and European folk healers. Before adding grape seed oil to your daily diet, talk with your doctor about the benefits and potential risks associated with this natural supplement.
Reduces Swellling
Treatment with grape seed oil supplements might help reduce swelling caused by injury or surgery. Health professionals with the University of Maryland Medical Center report that patients who underwent breast cancer surgery experienced less swelling following six months of daily treatment with 600 mg of grape seed oil extract than patients who received a placebo or sugar pill. However, additional research is necessary to further examine this medicinal benefit of grape seed oil.
Might Prevent Cancer Cell Growth
Grapeseed oil extract contains a number of antioxidants that help protect your cells from oxidative damage. Treatment with grapeseed oil might help prevent the growth of cancer cells in people with certain forms of cancer, such as colon, lung and breast cancers. Taking a grapeseed oil supplement also might help limit cell damage following chemotherapy. However, the use of grapeseed oil in cancer prevention has yet to be fully evaluated in humans. More research is necessary to support this purported benefit of grape seed oil.
Treats Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency causes excess blood accumulation and pooling in the legs. Stagnate blood flow in the legs can cause symptoms of pain, fatigue, swelling and visible veins. If you suffer from uncomfortable chronic venous insufficiency symptoms, you might benefit from treatment with grapeseed oil. This supplement contains a class of antioxidants called oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes that might help reduce swelling and pain.
Could Protect the Heart
Grapeseed oil also is purported to protect the blood vessels in the heart from damage. Taking a grapeseed oil supplement might help reduce high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, which can reduce your risk of developing atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Though data from current research examining the protective effects of grapeseed oil on the heart are promising, additional research in humans is necessary to substantiate this use.
Other Possible Benefits
Health professionals with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine explain that grapeseed also might help reduce the risk of diabetes complications. This supplement might help protect against nerve damage, which can reduce vision problems and peripheral neuropathy, a diabetes complication characterized by sensations of numbness, tingling or weakness throughout the body. Grapeseed extract also might speed wound healing and be beneficial in the treatment of skin conditions such as eczema. Additional research evaluating these medicinal uses of grape seed oil is necessary to validate these claims.
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