Grape Seed Extract Vs. Resveratrol

Grape seed extract, or GSE, and resveratrol are two components of grapes with health benefits. Both may reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease, although each acts somewhat differently. The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which is often caused by buildup of cholesterol deposits in arteries. Consider taking either GSE or resveratrol, or both, to lower your risk for this disorder, but discuss their use with your doctor first to determine what is appropriate for you.

Resveratrol Function

Resveratrol is a natural component of the skins of red grapes. Other foods also contain the compound, including peanuts and mulberries. Resveratrol is an antioxidant that suppresses oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. Often called "bad" cholesterol, LDL forms unhealthy deposits called plaque on artery walls when its levels are too high. Oxidation of LDL is one of the steps involved in production of these deposits. Resveratrol decreases the ability of platelets to aggregate and form clots, further lowering the risk for growth of large areas of plaque. It may also protect the heart from developing an abnormal beat pattern, called an arrhythmia.

Resveratrol Research

In a laboratory study published in "Clinica Chimica Acta" in 1995, resveratrol inhibited aggregation of platelets, suggesting that it may prevent clot formation. In another study published in "Life Sciences" in 1997, resveratrol suppressed lipid oxidation in laboratory tests. In a study published in "Cardiovascular Research" in 2000, resveratrol protected the cardiovascular system of test animals from experimentally induced damage, compared to other animals given a placebo. Clinical trials with human subjects are still lacking, however, and are needed to verify these findings with animals.

Grape Seed Extract Function

Grape seeds are a byproduct of wine production from fresh grapes. Grape seed extract, or GSE, contains many healthy compounds, including vitamin E, flavonoids, and compounds called proanthocyanidins. Proanthocyandins are potent antioxidants that help remove free radicals, metabolic byproducts that can damage cells. They may also help protect the heart and other organs from injury caused by toxic chemicals and certain drugs. Finally, grape seed extract may help keep blood pressure low by shielding vessels from damage.

Grape Seed Research

The cardioprotective effect of grape seed extract was explored in a study published in "Mutation Research" in 2003, which showed that the extract protected experimental animals from cardiac damage caused by a toxic drug. Other studies, such as one published in the "Annals of the New York Academy of Science" in 2002, found that GSE also acts as a vasodilator, increasing blood flow through arteries by relaxing muscle in the arterial wall. Although promising, these laboratory results still need to be verified in clinical studies with human subjects.

Recommendations

Both grape seed extract and resveratrol may be beneficial in helping lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. Since each seems to act via different mechanisms, you may want to add both to your regimen. GSE and resveratrol are both available as supplements in capsules or tablets, and both are considered safe and with few side effects. The usual dose of GSE is 25 to 300 mg of standardized preparations. For resveratrol, a dose of 10 to 50 mg is common, although taking up to 5 g has been found to be safe. Do not take either supplement if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and consult your doctor for advice before consuming either GSE or resveratrol.