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Fight Cataracts, Cancer, and Improve Heart Function: Grape Seed Extract OPCs Do It All!

Helps protect smokers from oxidative stress

Grape seed extract has been shown to protect low-density lipoproteins (LDL) under oxidative stress in heavy smokers. A fourteen-week clinical study involved 24 healthy smokers over the age of 50 who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day. During the first four-week stage, one group was given 150 mg/d of a GSE supplement and the other was given 150 mg/d of placebo. The fatty component of the blood was measured before and after the end of each phase. "Treatment with the supplement, compared with the placebo, induced a 20-percent reduction of the lipidic peroxidation, with a significant 15-percent increase of LDL resistance to oxidating stress," explained Roberto Maffei Facino, a professor at Milan University.12 In other words, the GSE supplementation lowered the smokers' risk for developing heart disease.

Strengthens capillary walls and reduces varicose veins

Grape seed OPCs help stabilize blood vessel walls, reduce inflammation, and generally support tissues containing collagen and elastin—proteins found in cartilage, tendons, blood vessels, skin, and muscle. OPCs have also been shown to strengthen capillaries in double-blind research using as little as 100 mg per day.13

A French double-blind study of 50 women with chronic venous insufficiency (a condition where blood pools in the veins of the lower legs and can result in varicose veins) found that GSE quickly and effectively resolved their symptoms using 150 mg per day.14

Another French double-blind study of 92 patients found that GSE, compared to placebo, significantly reduced peripheral venous insufficiency symptoms, such as edema, pain and cramps. And supplementation with 100 mg taken three times per day, resulted in benefits within four weeks.15

Reduces post-op swelling

Possibly because of their effects on blood vessels, grape seed OPCs can be useful for swelling following an injury or surgery. In double-blind research, they have been reported to reduce the duration of edema after face-lift surgery from 15.8 to 11.4 days.16

Also, a double-blind controlled study found that postoperative breast cancer patients who took 600 milligrams of GSE daily for six months experienced a significant reduction in swelling, pain, and sensations known as paresthesias.17 Another double-blind controlled study found that GSE improved the rate at which swelling disappeared following sports injuries.18

Inhibits growth of cancer cells

Some of the latest research being done on grape seed extract has indicated that it is a chemopreventative, protecting against the proliferation of cancer cells.

A study recently published in June, 2004, discussed GSE's positive effect on cancer cells in the human intestinal tract.19

Several recent studies at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, have also shown that GSE inhibits the growth of human breast cancer,20 prostate cancer,21 and cancer in endothelial cells.22

How safe is grape seed extract?

OPCs have been extensively tested for safety and are considered to be essentially nontoxic.2324

Conclusion

Free radicals have been implicated in a myriad of modern day diseases and conditions, including aging, arthritis, atherosclerosis, ischemia, Alzheimer and Parkinson's disease, AIDS and cancer.

A large number of synthetic and natural antioxidants have been demonstrated to produce beneficial effects on human health and disease prevention. However, the bioavailability and effectiveness of the various antioxidants are unique to each antioxidant, and some are more effective than others.

As we have seen, grape seed extract's OPCs possess a broad spectrum of biological, pharmacological and therapeutic activities against free radicals and oxidative stress. Scientists have demonstrated that GSE is highly bioavailable and even provides significantly greater protection against free radicals and free radical-induced lipid peroxidation and DNA damage than vitamins C, E and beta-carotene.25

While vitamins C, E and beta-carotene are certainly potent antioxidants and necessary for overall health, if you want extra protection against heart disease and cancer, and added support for healthy circulation and eye health, consider taking grape seed extract for added support and peace of mind. 

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Editor's Note:

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Visit www.amazon.com – a great way to find competitive deals on supplements offered by many different manufacturers.

Visit www.hfn-usa.com – when commitment to quality and freshness is important, this factory direct solution is preferred by many of our readers.

This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a physician before embarking on a dietary supplement program.

References

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  2. Bagchi D, Bagchi M, Stohs SJ, Das DK, Ray SD, Kuszynski CA, Joshi SS, Pruess HG. Free radicals and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract: importance in human health and disease prevention.Toxicology. 2000 Aug 7;148(2-3):187-97. 

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  3. Murray, Michael T. "PCO Sources: Grape Seed vs Pine Bark." The Healing Power of Herbs. Prima Publishing, Rocklin, CA. 1995. 

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  4. Murray M, Pizzorno J. Procyanidolic oligomers. In: Murray M, Pizzorno J, eds. The Textbook of Natural Medicine. 2nd ed. London: Churchill Livingston; 1999:899-902. 

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  5. Yamakoshi J, Saito M, Kataoka S, Tokutake S. Procyanidin-rich extract from grape seeds prevents cataract formation in hereditary cataractous (ICR/f) rats. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Aug 14;50(17):4983-8. 

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  6. Simonetti P, Ciappellano S, Gardana C, Bramati L, Pietta P. Procyanidins from Vitis vinifera seeds: in vivo effects on oxidative stress. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Oct 9;50(21):6217-21. 

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  7. Chidambara Murthy KN, Singh RP, Jayaprakasha GK. Antioxidant activities of grape (Vitis vinifera) pomace extracts. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Oct 9;50(21):5909-14. 

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  8. Shafiee M, Carbonneau MA, Urban N, Descomps B, Leger CL. Grape and grape seed extract capacities at protecting LDL against oxidation generated by Cu2+, AAPH or SIN-1 and at decreasing superoxide THP-1 cell production. A comparison to other extracts or compounds. Free Radic Res. 2003 May;37(5):573-84.

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  9. Hagen, Pat. "Fresh Heart for Red Wine Drinkers" The Scientisthttp://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20011231/02

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  10. Institute of Food Technologists. 
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  11. Sato M, Maulik G, Ray PS, Bagchi D, Das DK. Cardioprotective effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin against ischemic reperfusion injury. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1999 Jun;31(6):1289-97. 

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  12. Vigna GB et al. "Effect of a standardized grape seed extract on low-density lipoprotein susceptibility to oxidation in heavy smokers."Metabolism. 52, 10:1250-7, 2003. (http://www.ncbi.nih.gov) 

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  13. Dartenuc JY, Marache P, Choussat H. Resistance Capillaire en Geriatrie Etude d'un Microangioprotecteur. Bordeaux Médical1980;13:903-7 [in French]. 

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  14. Delacroix P. Etude en Double Avengle de l'Endotelon dans l'Insuffisance Veineuse Chronique. Therapeutique, la Revue de Medicine 1981;27-28 Sept:1793-802 [in French]. 

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  15. Thebaut JF, Thebaut P, Vin F. Study of Endotelon in functional manifestations of peripheral venous insufficiency. Gazette Medicale1985;92:96-100 [in French]. 

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  16. Baroch J. Effect of Endotelon in postoperative edema. Results of a double-blind study versus placebo in 32 female patients. Ann Chir Polast Esthet 1984;29:393-5 [in French]. 

    ↑

  17. Pecking A, Desprez-Curely JP, Megret G. Oligomeric grape flavanols (Endotelon®) in the treatment of secondary upper limb lymphedemas [translated from French]. [Source unknown]. 1989:69-73. 

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  18. Parienti J-J, Parienti-Amsellem J. Post-traumatic edemas in sports: a controlled test of Endotelon® [translated from French]. Gaz Med Fr.1983;90:231-236. 

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  19. Laurent C, Besancon P, Auger C, Rouanet JM, Caporiccio B. Grape seed extract affects proliferation and differentiation of human intestinal Caco-2 cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Jun 2;52(11):3301-8. 

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  20. Sharma G, Tyagi AK, Singh RP, Chan DC, Agarwal R. Synergistic anti-cancer effects of grape seed extract and conventional cytotoxic agent doxorubicin against human breast carcinoma cells. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2004 May;85(1):1-12. 

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  21. Singh RP, Tyagi AK, Dhanalakshmi S, Agarwal R, Agarwal C. Grape seed extract inhibits advanced human prostate tumor growth and angiogenesis and upregulates insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3. Int J Cancer. 2004 Feb 20;108(5):733-40. 

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  22. Agarwal C, Singh RP, Dhanalakshmi S, Agarwal R. Anti-angiogenic efficacy of grape seed extract in endothelial cells. Oncol Rep. 2004 Mar;11(3):681-5.

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  23. Wren AF, Cleary M, Frantz C, Melton S, Norris L. 90-day oral toxicity study of a grape seed extract (IH636) in rats. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Mar 27;50(7):2180-92. 

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  24. Yamakoshi J, Saito M, Kataoka S, Kikuchi M. Safety evaluation of proanthocyanidin-rich extract from grape seeds. Food Chem Toxicol. 2002 May;40(5):599-607. 

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  25. Bagchi D, et al. Free radicals and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract: importance in human health and disease prevention.Toxicology. 2000 Aug 7;148(2-3):187-97. 

    Abstract ↑