Grape Seed Extract may Reduce Blood Pressure
Grape Seed Supplement Effective in Reducing Hypertension
A 2006 Newswise press release reported on the University of California (UC) Davis study of the benefits of grape seed extract supplement on people with high blood pressure.
The UC Davis study indicated grape seed extract lowered the blood pressure of patients who participated in the study.
Conducted by UC Davis cardiovascular researchers, the study was the first human clinical trial to assess the effect of grape seed extract on people with metabolic syndrome, a combination of risk factors that increase the risk for heart disease, including high blood pressure, excess abdominal body weight, high blood cholesterol fats and high blood sugar.
The researchers presented the results at the American Chemical Society Meeting and Exposition on March 26, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia and at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology's 2006 meeting in San Francisco on April 2.
Metabolic Syndrome Increases Heart Attacks and Strokes
It is estimated 40 percent of American adults, or 50 million people, have metabolic syndrome.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation indicates Metabolic Syndrome is widespread and is drastically increasing the number of heart attacks and strokes in Canada.
Between one-third and 40 percent of the Canadian population has some form of the syndrome and that Newfoundland and Labrador leads Canada in deaths from heart attacks and strokes.
The one-month UC Davis study involved 24 male and female patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. The patients were divided into three groups of eight.
The first group received a placebo, while the second and third groups received 150 milligrams and 300 milligrams, respectively, of a new grape seed extract. All participants' blood pressure was automatically measured and recorded for 12 hours after ingestion.
"Participants in the two groups receiving grape seed extract experienced an equal degree of reduced blood pressure. The average drop in systolic pressure (the top number of the blood pressure reading) was 12 millimetres.
"The average drop in diastolic pressure (the bottom number of the blood pressure reading) was 8 millimetres," said the study's lead researcher, C. Tissa Kappagoda, professor of cardiovascular medicine and director of the Preventive Cardiology Program at UC Davis.
Kappagoda adds the group taking 300 milligrams of grape seed extract also had reduced serum oxidized LDL cholesterol levels.
"Generally, the higher their initial oxidized LDL level was, the greater the drop by the end of the study," he said. The extract has received the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) certification from the FDA and has no known side effects.
UC Davis Research Team Embarked on a Second Controlled Human Clinical Study
The UC Davis research team has recently embarked on a second placebo-controlled human clinical study of grape seed extract, looking at its benefits for pre-hypertension patients with systolic pressure of 120-139 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure of 80-89 mmHg.
For more information on heart disease contact the Heart and Stroke Foundation branch in your area or go to the Heart and Stroke web page: www.heartandstroke.ca
Give Grape Seed Oil a Try
Never add or change your health and wellness regime without first consulting your health care professional or health care team. That said, ask your health care professional about adding grape seed extract to your health and wellness regime.
And for people who are looking for a healthy oil add grape seed oil to your shopping cart and give it a try. It has a light nutty flavour and is wonderful on salads. Or use grape seed oil as a healthy alternative oil to use in a stir fry. It also makes a lovely gift to give someone who likes to cook!
What do you think about this article?
More in Health & Wellness
Latest Articles