The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop other health conditions caused by high blood sugar levels. Grapeseed extract contains antioxidants known as oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes. Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress by attacking and destroying free radicals, molecules that can destroy cell DNA. The organ damage that many diabetics develop over time may be worsened by oxidative stress. Whether grapeseed extracts can be of benefit in treating diabetes and preventing long-term complications has not yet been conclusively proved by clinical studies. Do not take this supplement to treat diabetes without your medical practitioner's knowledge and approval.
Doses
Grapeseed extract, often abbreviated as GSE, is available in capsules, tablets and liquid extracts. Choose supplements standardized to between 40 and 80 percent proanthocyanidins or that have an OPC content of at least 95 percent, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends.
Studies
Some studies have shown a potential benefit to using grapeseed extract to prevent the complications that develop in many long-standing diabetics. Researchers from Queen Alexandra Hospital published a study in the May 2009 issue of "Diabetic Medicine" on the effects of 600 mg per day of GSE for four weeks, along with diet or oral glucose-lowering medications, on Type 2 diabetics. Markers for cardiovascular disease such as C-reactive protein as well as cholesterol levels improved in the group taking GSE. An animal study conducted by Romanian researchers and reported in the July 2009 issue of "Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research" found that GSE improved antioxidant activity in rats with induced diabetes, decreasing potential cell damage that leads to diabetic complications.
Side Effects
Grapeseed extract could interfere with blood-thinning drugs or anticoagulants such as warfarin. If you take blood thinners, talk with you medical provider before trying grapeseed extract. Do not take grapeseed extract for more than 12 weeks without your doctor's approval, and don't take the supplement at all if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, since its safety has not been established under these conditions. Potential side effects include dry, itchy scalp, dizziness, headache, high blood pressure or hives. Nausea and stomach upset can also occur.
Considerations
Wine, especially red wine, appears to have health benefits, but the main components thought to improve health problems, such as resveratrol, are found in the skins of the grapes, not the seeds. Researchers also aren't clear on whether the alcohol in wine works with the other substances to confer health benefits. More studies are needed to test the benefits of grapeseed extract.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Grapeseed Extract; August 2010
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Grape Seed Extract; July 2010
- "Diabetic Medications"; Effects of Grape Seed Extract in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects at High Cardiovascular Risk: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial...; P. Karr et al.; May 2009
- "Diabetes and Vascular Disease Research"; Antioxidant Effects of a Grape Seed Extract in a Rat Model of Diabetes Mellitus; I.C. Chis et al.; July 2009
- FamilyDoctor.org: Diabetes: Preventing Diabetic Complications
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