| Does grape seed extract lower bad cholesterol? |
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Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for
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reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
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Grape seed and skin contain several active components including
flavonoids, polyphenols, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, procyanidines,
and the stilbene derivative resveratrol. [4] Now, does grape seed extract
lower bad cholesterol?
High cholesterol, a significant cardiovascular risk factor, is prevalent in the American
population. Many drugs lower circulating cholesterol levels, but they are not
infrequently associated with severe side effects. Accordingly, natural means to lower
cholesterol levels safely would be welcomed. [1]
Grape seed proanthocyanidins extract, whose principal ingredients are
proanthocyanidins; most are strong antioxidants. Vigana GB and co-workers from
University of Ferrara, Italy, supplied 150 mg of a grape procyanidin extract twice a day
to healthy male heavy smokers for four weeks. At the end of the study, subjects did
not show significant improvement on total cholesterol, bad cholesterol and
triglyceride! .............Why? [3]
In a study of rats suffered from nephrosis, researchers from Children's Hospital of
Michigan observed grape seed extract (at dose of 10 mg/100 g) could also lower
serum cholesterol and even triglyceride levels. [2] Please, that “1 pound = 453.6
grams” and the dose is 40 mg of grape seed extract per 100 g of rat weight, this
means “human need to take a few grams of that grape seed extract to achieve the
effect of lowering bad cholesterol”.
Combined with other actives, that one may not need to have such high doses to low
bad cholesterol. In 2000, researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center
supplied 40 human subjects twice a day with high cholesterol (210-300 mg/dL) with
either placebo, chromium polynicotinate 200 microg, grape seed extract 100 mg, or a
combination of chromium polynicotinate and grape seed extract at the same dosage.
Two months later, the average percent change in the total cholesterol from baseline
among groups was: placebo -3.5%, grape seed extract -2.5%, chromium
polynicotinate -10%, and the combination -16.5%. Again, the combination of
chromium polynicotinate and grape seed extract significantly lower bad cholesterol, i.
e. LDL, when compared to placebo. [1]
A few more words…..
The effectiveness of a grape seed extract depends on its extraction ratio, purity,
dosage form, composition, dose and the users’ conditions as well. Discuss with your
doctor before taking any supplements.
Grape Seed Extract - Benefits and Side Effects
Resveratrol Side Effects and Benefits
Resveratrol - Cancer
Resveratrol - Diabetes
Resveratrol - Arthritis
Resveratrol - Cream
Reference:
[1] Preuss HG, Wallerstedt D, Talpur N, Tutuncuoglu SO, Echard B, Myers A, Bui M,
Bagchi D. Effects of niacin-bound chromium and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract
on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic subjects: a pilot study. J Med. 2000;31(5-
6):227-46. [2] Mattoo TK, Kovacevic L. Effect of grape seed extract on puromycin-
aminonucleoside-induced nephrosis in rats. Pediatr Nephrol. 2003 Sep;18(9):872-7.
Epub 2003 Jun 26. [3] Vigna GB, Costantini F, Aldini G, Carini M, Catapano A,
Schena F, Tangerini A, Zanca R, Bombardelli E, Morazzoni P, Mezzetti A, Fellin R,
Maffei Facino R. Effect of a standardized grape seed extract on low-density
lipoprotein susceptibility to oxidation in heavy smokers. Metabolism. 2003 Oct;52(10):
1250-7. [4] Nassiri-Asl M, Hosseinzadeh H. Review of the pharmacological effects of
Vitis vinifera (Grape) and its bioactive compounds. Phytother Res. 2009 Jan 12
flavonoids, polyphenols, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, procyanidines,
and the stilbene derivative resveratrol. [4] Now, does grape seed extract
lower bad cholesterol?
High cholesterol, a significant cardiovascular risk factor, is prevalent in the American
population. Many drugs lower circulating cholesterol levels, but they are not
infrequently associated with severe side effects. Accordingly, natural means to lower
cholesterol levels safely would be welcomed. [1]
Grape seed proanthocyanidins extract, whose principal ingredients are
proanthocyanidins; most are strong antioxidants. Vigana GB and co-workers from
University of Ferrara, Italy, supplied 150 mg of a grape procyanidin extract twice a day
to healthy male heavy smokers for four weeks. At the end of the study, subjects did
not show significant improvement on total cholesterol, bad cholesterol and
triglyceride! .............Why? [3]
In a study of rats suffered from nephrosis, researchers from Children's Hospital of
Michigan observed grape seed extract (at dose of 10 mg/100 g) could also lower
serum cholesterol and even triglyceride levels. [2] Please, that “1 pound = 453.6
grams” and the dose is 40 mg of grape seed extract per 100 g of rat weight, this
means “human need to take a few grams of that grape seed extract to achieve the
effect of lowering bad cholesterol”.
Combined with other actives, that one may not need to have such high doses to low
bad cholesterol. In 2000, researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center
supplied 40 human subjects twice a day with high cholesterol (210-300 mg/dL) with
either placebo, chromium polynicotinate 200 microg, grape seed extract 100 mg, or a
combination of chromium polynicotinate and grape seed extract at the same dosage.
Two months later, the average percent change in the total cholesterol from baseline
among groups was: placebo -3.5%, grape seed extract -2.5%, chromium
polynicotinate -10%, and the combination -16.5%. Again, the combination of
chromium polynicotinate and grape seed extract significantly lower bad cholesterol, i.
e. LDL, when compared to placebo. [1]
A few more words…..
The effectiveness of a grape seed extract depends on its extraction ratio, purity,
dosage form, composition, dose and the users’ conditions as well. Discuss with your
doctor before taking any supplements.
Grape Seed Extract - Benefits and Side Effects
Resveratrol Side Effects and Benefits
Resveratrol - Cancer
Resveratrol - Diabetes
Resveratrol - Arthritis
Resveratrol - Cream
Reference:
[1] Preuss HG, Wallerstedt D, Talpur N, Tutuncuoglu SO, Echard B, Myers A, Bui M,
Bagchi D. Effects of niacin-bound chromium and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract
on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic subjects: a pilot study. J Med. 2000;31(5-
6):227-46. [2] Mattoo TK, Kovacevic L. Effect of grape seed extract on puromycin-
aminonucleoside-induced nephrosis in rats. Pediatr Nephrol. 2003 Sep;18(9):872-7.
Epub 2003 Jun 26. [3] Vigna GB, Costantini F, Aldini G, Carini M, Catapano A,
Schena F, Tangerini A, Zanca R, Bombardelli E, Morazzoni P, Mezzetti A, Fellin R,
Maffei Facino R. Effect of a standardized grape seed extract on low-density
lipoprotein susceptibility to oxidation in heavy smokers. Metabolism. 2003 Oct;52(10):
1250-7. [4] Nassiri-Asl M, Hosseinzadeh H. Review of the pharmacological effects of
Vitis vinifera (Grape) and its bioactive compounds. Phytother Res. 2009 Jan 12