Grape seed extract is an herbal remedy that may reduce your risk for several major diseases, including heart disease and cancer. It contains a number of natural compounds with potential health benefits. The most widely studied of these belong to a class called proanthocyanidins, compounds with strong antioxidant activity. Consult your doctor to discuss whether consuming grape seed extract is appropriate for you.
Properties
Grape seed extract, or GSE, is produced from grape seeds, which are a byproduct of wine and juice production. Its proanthodyanidins are potent antioxidants, which remove free radicals from your body. These free radicals, which are byproducts of metabolism, may harm cells by damaging their membranes or DNA. Other compounds in GSE also block oxidation of lipids, including cholesterol, and modify the activity of genes important for division of abnormal cells.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Grape seed extract benefits your cardiovascular system in several ways. By interfering with oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, it prevents its deposition in artery-blocking plaque. This lowers your risk for atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. GSE may also strengthen the walls of veins, especially those in your legs, and, if you have hypertension, it may protect your blood vessels from damage caused by elevated blood pressure. GSE also helps relieve tissue swelling after surgery or an injury by promoting movement of fluid from tissues into nearby vessels.
Cancer
Because of its high antioxidant activity, grape seed extract may help prevent certain cancers, including those of the breast, prostate, lung, colon and stomach. It may also help protect your liver, heart, kidneys and other organs from damage caused by drugs, including several chemotherapy medications. GSE may also stop cancer cells from growing. In a laboratory study published in 2004 in the journal "Breast Cancer Research and Treatment," GSE was effective in blocking division of breast cancer cells in culture, reducing their growth rate by up to 72 percent. These are promising results, but studies are still needed in human subjects.
Recommendations and Precautions
Grape seed extract is available from health food stores as capsules or tablets, or as a liquid extract. Choose products standardized to 40 to 80 percent proanthocyanidin content. The recommended amount is 150 to 400 mg daily, taken in several doses. GSE is generally considered safe and without significant side effects, although it may interact with some prescription medications such as blood thinners. Do not take the supplement if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and discuss it with your doctor before adding it to your regimen.
References
- MedlinePlus: Heart Diseases
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Grape Seed
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Grape Seed
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Grape Seed
- "Breast Cancer Research and Treatment"; Synergistic Anti-Cancer Effects of Grape Seed Extract and Conventional Cytotoxic Agent Doxorubicin Against Human Breast Carcinoma Cells; G. Sharma, et al.; 2004
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