Grape Seed Extract is rich in antioxidants supporting cardiovascular and skin health, but may cause headache or nausea.
Grape Seed Extract (GSE) is a natural dietary supplement derived from grape seeds, primarily sourced from the wine industry. It is rich in oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), which are powerful antioxidants. GSE is commonly used to support cardiovascular health, promote skin health, and provide general antioxidant protection against free radical damage. While generally considered safe for most individuals, potential side effects include headache, nausea, dizziness, and itching. Furthermore, GSE may interact with certain medications, particularly blood thinners, warranting caution and consultation with a healthcare professional before use, especially for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions or those taking prescription medications.
Key Information
Inside Body Harmful Score
Common Dosage
100-300mg daily
Source Type
natural
Production Process
Grape seed extract is produced by extracting the seeds from grapes, typically from the wine-making process. These seeds are then dried, pulverized, and extracted using solvents (e.g., water, ethanol, or methanol) to isolate the beneficial compounds, primarily oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs). The extract is then concentrated and standardized to a specific percentage of OPCs.
Use Type
Inside BodyPotential Benefits
This benefit aims to improve overall skin health and appearance through increased hydration, reduced inflammation, improved elasticity, and protection from environmental damage. Healthy skin exhibits a smooth texture, even tone, and strong barrier function.
Cardiovascular health ensures efficient blood circulation by maintaining healthy heart and blood vessels. Benefits include reduced risk of heart disease and stroke through improved blood flow and heart function.
Accelerates and supports the body's natural wound repair processes. This includes reducing inflammation, promoting collagen synthesis, increasing cell proliferation, and facilitating angiogenesis, leading to faster wound closure, reduced scarring, and decreased infection risk.
Antioxidant protection defends the body against free radical damage, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and promoting overall cellular health. This is achieved by neutralizing unstable molecules that cause oxidative stress and cellular damage.
GSE may inhibit the growth of fungi such as Candida albicans, potentially treating fungal infections on the skin and nails. The mechanism likely involves disrupting fungal cell membranes.
Grape seed extract (GSE) may help prevent UTIs by inhibiting bacterial adhesion to the urinary tract walls, but more research is needed. Limited evidence supports this benefit.
Possible Side Effects
Dizziness is a sensation of lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or vertigo that can arise from multiple causes. It can lead to falls or loss of consciousness in some cases.
Headache is pain in the head ranging from mild to severe, potentially with nausea, light/sound sensitivity, or dizziness. It can be caused by tension, dehydration, stress, or medication side effects, and persistent headaches require medical evaluation.
Nausea is an unpleasant sensation of stomach unease, often preceding vomiting, caused by various factors like medications or infections. Prolonged nausea can lead to complications like dehydration.
Drug interactions can alter a drug's effectiveness, leading to either increased risk of blood clots or bleeding, particularly with anticoagulants. Monitoring is essential to manage these interactions.
Itching is a localized sensation at the application site that causes the urge to scratch. It is typically a mild and transient reaction, but can sometimes be more intense or persistent.
GSE can interact with medications metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, increasing drug levels and the risk of side effects. Monitoring is crucial when GSE is co-administered with such drugs.
Scientific Evidence
Key scientific sources include studies on the effects of GSE on blood pressure, cardiovascular function, skin aging, and antioxidant activity. Relevant search terms on PubMed and Google Scholar are 'grape seed extract', 'OPCs', 'cardiovascular health', 'skin health', 'antioxidant', 'side effects', and 'drug interactions'. Specific clinical trials and systematic reviews focusing on these areas provide stronger evidence.
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