Grape Seed Extract with Activin Articles
Grape Seed Extract Heart Benefits
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Grape Seed Extract Heart Benefits
Researchers, led by Dr. Jan Andries Post from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, found grape seed extract could reduce lipid oxidation and free radical damage of blood vessel cells by about 75 per cent.
Grape seed extract (GSE) is just what it sounds like - an extract from grape seeds. The seeds are typically from red grapes (instead of white), which have a high content of compounds known as oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs). Oligomeric proanthocyanidins or OPCs are a class of flavonoid complexes found in grape seeds and skin, which act as antioxidants (free radical scavengers) in the human body.
Thus, it has been found that OPCs may help protect against the effects of internal and environmental stresses (such as cigarette smoking, pollution, and supporting normal body metabolic processes). The effects may include depressing blood fat, emolliating blood vessels, lowering blood pressure, preventing blood vessel scleroses, dropping blood viscidity and preventing thrombus formation (a type of platelet clot).
Additionally, studies have shown that OPCs may prevent cardiovascular disease by counteracting the negative effects of high cholesterol on the heart and blood vessels.
Dr. Post's study is to be presented at the 14th International Inflammation Research Association Conference in Maryland, USA. His research shows that endothelial cells, the cells that line the inner walls of blood vessels, grown in the presence of OPCs were more resistant to oxidative stress due to cumene hydroperoxide (CumOOH).
Oxidative stress of endothelial cells can cause inflammation, hardening of the walls of the arteries (atherosclerosis), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) - the cause of almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe.
The researchers grew the cells in the presence of varying doses of OPCs for varying times, and afterwards were washed and exposed to CumOOH, a strong oxidizing agent.
Dr. Post and his co-workers report that pre-incubation of the cells with OPCs prior to exposure to CumOOH protected the endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner.
Indeed, the 60 microgram per millilitre dose of OPC decreased lipid oxidation after exposure to the highest CumOOH dose (50 micromoles) by 75 per cent, compared to no OPC.
"We were impressed to see such significant direct proof that this water-soluble product is so evidently active as an antioxidant in the lipid phase," said Dr. Post.
"Some antioxidants, such as vitamin C, work in the aqueous phase, others such as vitamin E, work in the lipid phase. This versatile natural compound obviously works in both phases, which is a remarkable and rather unique feature for a phyto-nutrient."
According to data from the US Department of Agriculture, a healthy diet should provide an adequate intake of OPCs, but studies have suggested that intake of an average diet is only about 25 mg per day. Most studies have shown a benefit of OPCs with higher doses than the average diet provides.
October, 2006
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