Grape Seed Procyanidins in Pre- and Mild Hypertension: A Registry Study

Abstract

The efficacy of a standardized grape seed procyanidins extract (GSPE, Enovita) to decrease blood pressure when associated with nondrug intervention (diet and lifestyle modifications) was investigated in a controlled registry study involving 119 healthy, pre- and mildly hypertensive subjects. Two dosages of Enovita were evaluated (150 and 300 mg/die), using blood pressure and heart rate as the primary endpoints and complementing these observations with a laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) investigation of the microcirculation state and an evaluation of the plasma oxidative status. After four months of treatment, a statistically significant higher, and dose-dependent, improvement in all endpoints was observed in the treatment groups compared to that of the control, with blood pressure normalizing in 93% of the higher dosage (300 mg) treatment group. Taken together, these observations suggest that GSPEs have beneficial cardiovascular effects that complement current intervention strategies in the hypertension area. The effect on blood pressure adds to the beneficial effects of GSPEs on the cardiovascular disease (CVD) phenotype associated with the oxidation of membrane lipids (endothelial dysfunction, formation of oxidized LDL, and activation of phagocytic cells).

Mechanistic insight into nuclear receptor‐mediated regulation of bile acid metabolism and lipid homeostasis by grape seed procyanidin extract (GSPE)

“…Procyanidins have demonstrated cardioprotective effects in humans, primarily because of their hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory activities . Grape seed procyanidin extract, in particular, may exert beneficial effects in the reduction of CVD risk because of its ability to ameliorate multiple risk factors included within MetS . Such risk factors include hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which commonly cluster together and confer increased risk for CVD development .…”

“…Such risk factors include hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which commonly cluster together and confer increased risk for CVD development . Because GSPE exerts antioxidant, antihypertensive, hypoglycemic, and antiinflammatory effects in humans, as well as hypotriglyceridemic effects in vivo, it may be a beneficial agent in treating MetS risk factors as a way to combat CVD. The specific effects of GSPE on TG, cholesterol, and BA metabolism will be discussed in further detail in the following sections.…”

The intake of a high-fat diet and grape seed procyanidins induces gene expression changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of hamsters: capturing alterations in lipid and cholesterol metabolisms

“…In this context, our group and others have reported many healthy beneficial effects of a grape seed procyanidin extract (GSPE) (rich in monomers and oligomers of flavan-3-ols, the most abundant polyphenols in the human diet), on different pathologies clustered within the metabolic syndrome, such as insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, obesity, hypertension and inflammation (Del Bas et al 2005;Pinent et al 2006;Quesada et al 2009;Bladé et al 2010;Terra et al 2011;Belcaro et al 2013;Caimari et al 2013). Interestingly, some studies have shown that polyphenols, which may be isolated or included in extracts or foods, such as olive oil and cocoa, are also able to regulate the gene expression profiles of PBMCs (Konstantinidou et al 2009;Khymenets et al 2009;Camargo et al 2010;Crescenti et al 2013;Tomé-Carneiro et al 2013;van der Velpen et al 2013).…”

Grapes (Vitis vinifera) as a Potential Candidate for the Therapy of the Metabolic Syndrome

“…In a controlled registry study, the anti‐hypertensive activity of a standardized grape seed procyanidins extract has been investigated. After 4 months, the blood pressure was normalized in 93% of high dosage (300 mg) (Belcaro et al, ).…”