Health benefits of grape seed extract for improving diabetes

Studies have found that grape seed extract has the effects of losing weight, lowering blood pressure, and improving diabetes.

Have you noticed that grape seed extract has become more and more popular recently? Grape seeds contain a lot of antioxidant proanthocyanidins and polyphenols, and make grapes dark red or purple. Grape seed extract is derived from crushed grape seeds, so it is known for its powerful antioxidant activity. For health and beauty, what are the specific effects?

Grape seed extract is gaining popularity as a functional food . According to Global Market Insights, the grape seed extract market size exceeded USD 135 million in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% by 2027.

Among them, some grape seed extracts are used in cosmetics, personal care products and other new products, such as the application of nanofibers containing grape seed extracts in food packaging to prevent food oxidation. But health-conscious consumers are increasingly using grape seed extract as a beneficial supplement to functional foods and beverages. Specifically, it can play the following 6 major effects on our health.

6 Health Benefits of Grape Seed Extract

1. Prevention and management of obesity

In a 2020 research paper, researchers from the School of Medicine of Yangtze University in Hubei, China mentioned that grape seed extract can be effective in preventing obesity in several ways, including lowering blood lipids, improving gut flora and regulating metabolism.

Another study, published in Phytotherapy Research in 2021, found that grape seed extract (300 mg daily for 12 weeks) improved obesity or overweight adults when consumed with a calorie-restricted diet Human cardiovascular risk factors. Compared with placebo, those who consumed grape seed extract had increased levels of beneficial high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and significantly lower levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as visceral fat, plasma atherosclerotic index (cardiovascular disease). markers) and triglycerides were also significantly reduced.

2. Lower blood pressure

Grape seed extract also lowers blood pressure and lowers heart rate. A 2021 study published in the journal Nutrients found that in healthy adults, consumption of grape seed extract (300 mg per day for 16 weeks) significantly reduced blood pressure compared to a placebo. Studies have also found that in obese and overweight men, grape seed extract can significantly reduce aortic stiffness, resulting in less arterial pressure during rest and exercise.

In patients with metabolic syndrome, the powerful vasodilator phenolic compounds in grape seed extract also act to reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The journal Metabolism recommends grape seed extract as an intervention to reduce the potential risk of cardiovascular problems that can occur during exercise in people with prehypertension.

Another study showed that taking a single dose of grape seed extract before exercise lowered blood pressure, slowed peripheral vasoconstriction, reduced the burden on the heart, and enhanced blood oxygen delivery in men with prehypertension.

Grape seed extract also lowers blood pressure and lowers heart rate.

3. Relieve stress and improve mood

Stress and other psychological states can also have a significant impact on blood pressure, which is why the researchers not only measured the effects of grape seed extract on blood pressure, but also to understand the participants' perceived stress levels. The aforementioned 2021 study published in the journal Nutrients also found that grape seed extract produced surprising benefits for emotions related to the perception of stress, including a significant reduction in worry.

The study also found that menopausal women who took grape seed extract had lower systolic blood pressure and improved psychological symptoms such as anxiety. The mood benefits may be due to the polyphenols found in grape seed extract, which can improve mood and increase cognitive function in the brain, as well as protect against brain disorders.

4. Prevent tooth decay and protect dental health

A systematic review of 20 studies in the medical journal Nutrition and Health revealed that grape seed extract has unique caries-preventing properties. In addition to inhibiting bacterial biofilm on tooth surfaces, grape seed extract helps promote tooth remineralization, a natural process that helps repair tooth enamel before cavities can form.

The antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of grape seed extract make it ideal for promoting oral health and managing periodontal disease. In addition, Indian and Italian researchers published in the Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents in 2021 that grape seed extract gel can also significantly improve patients with chronic periodontitis gingival and plaque index.

Grape seed extract has the effect of preventing tooth decay and protecting the health of teeth.

5. Improve insulin antagonism and relieve diabetes

Grape seed extract has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may have several beneficial effects on diabetes, including improving insulin antagonism. Diabetes Metab Syndrome found that consumption of grape seed extract (100 mg per day) for eight weeks improved insulin concentrations and insulin resistance in adolescents with metabolic syndrome.

Grape seed extract polyphenols also affect neuromodulators and nerve signaling pathways, which may be beneficial for insulin. A 2020 research review in Molecules noted that grape seed extract positively affects human starch-digesting enzymes and improves outcomes in patients with microalbuminuria, an early sign of vascular damage. The Indian researchers found that this sign was present in about 37 percent of people with type 2 diabetes and often preceded the development of kidney disease caused by diabetes.

6. Prevent cardiovascular disease

Grape seed extract also has many more benefits for heart health. Studies have shown that it can significantly reduce levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker of CRP that is one of the indicators of cardiovascular problems. A 2019 paper by Indian researchers in the Journal of Food Science and Technology stated that grape seed extract can prevent atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis by:

● Limits LDL oxidation

● Lowers blood pressure

● Reduces inflammation

● Inhibits platelet aggregation

● Activates certain proteins that prevent cellular senescence

The study also revealed that grape seed extract also helps minimize fat accumulation in tissues and even inhibits dietary fat absorption through its action on fat-metabolizing enzymes. Overall, this natural grape compound is able to exert a powerful effect in reducing oxidative stress in the heart, helping to alleviate the problem of cardiac insufficiency.

In addition, grape seed extract is considered safe when taken in moderation. Those who are allergic to grape-related food, pregnant women, poor renal function, and those who are taking drugs should consult a doctor before deciding whether to consume it.