Grape seeds pressed into duty

Like grape skins, grape seeds don’t make it into the wine bottle, so they’re an abundant byproduct of winemaking. They’re often crushed to make grape seed oil and, especially in recent years, grape seed supplements. The oil’s mild flavor and high tolerance for heat make it a favorite among some chefs. Grape seed supplements are popular for the beneficial fatty acids and proanthocyanidins they contain. Proanthocyanidins, plant antioxidants that may improve heart health and cholesterol levels, are also found in chocolate, green and black tea, apples, blueberries, cranberries and currants.

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Elena Conis

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Uses: People use grape seed supplements hoping to prevent cancer and treat arthritis, heart disease, varicose veins and degenerative eye disease. Grape seed oil is also sometimes used as a laxative and to improve skin tone.

Dose: Most studies suggest users should take 50 to 100 milligrams of grape seed extract once or twice a day.

Precautions: In a couple of small Australian studies, taking vitamin C and grape seed supplements simultaneously increased blood pressure in men with hypertension.

Research: In the 1980s, French scientists reported that proanthocyanidins could help reduce swelling after face-lifts and reduce symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, a condition related to varicose veins in which damaged valves cause blood to pool in the legs. More recent studies examining grape seed’s effects on heart health and cancer have been performed largely in test tubes and animals. In animal studies, grape seed extract protected against prostate cancer, liver tumors and nervous system damage, reduced blood pressure, and improved learning ability and heart function. In small-scale human studies, few in number, the extract appeared to help lower cholesterol levels and keep veins healthy. However, proanthocyanidin content varies from one supplement to another on the market. And until scientists fully understand the chemical’s role in health, it’s best to get a dose from food sources, rather than pills.

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Dietary supplement makers are not required by the U.S. government to demonstrate that their products are safe or effective. Ask your healthcare provider for advice on selecting a brand.