Written by Jessica Patella, ND. Supplementing with grape seed extract in combination with lifestyle modifications show significant decreases in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate with the high dose grape seed group providing the most significant result of 93% normalized blood pressure.
High blood pressure is one of the main reasons for visiting a primary care doctor, with an estimated 38.9 million visits annually (2). High blood pressure is also occurring at younger ages, with 31.9% of adults over the age of 20 having the condition (2). Due to the side effects of hypertension medications, dietary and supplement options are often researched. A recent study found that supplementing with grape seed extract significantly lowered blood pressure levels (1).
The research included participants from 45-55 years of age, in general good health, with hypertension. Participants either had prehypertension (120-139 mm Hg/80-89 mm Hg) or stage 1 hypertension (140-159 mm Hg/90-99 mm Hg) (1).
All participants were started on a lifestyle modification program, which included reduction of salt, alcohol and caffeinated drinks. It also included regular exercise, improvement of sleep time, relaxation and reduction of smoking (1).
The participants were divided into three groups:
Group 1: 300mg grape seed extract per day plus lifestyle modification (n=37, 14 females)
Group 2: 150mg grape seed extract per day plus lifestyle modification (n=35, 18 females)
Group 3: Lifestyle modifications only (n=47, 19 females)
The participants were followed monthly for four months. At the end of the first month, a decrease in systolic blood pressure was observed in all three groups, with a significant change in both supplement groups (P<0.05). The average drop in systolic blood pressure was 28 mm Hg in Group 1 (high dose), 21 mm Hg in Group 2 (low dose) and 11 mm Hg in Group 3 (lifestyle only) (1).
By the end of the four-month study, blood pressure in Group1 (high dose, 300mg) normalized in 93% of the participants. The average systolic blood pressure in Group 1 at baseline was 149 +/- 4.5 mm Hg and after 4 months was 112 +/- 3.5 mm Hg. The average diastolic blood pressure in Group 1 at baseline was 91.0 +/- 3.2 mmHg and after 4 months was 82.3 +/- 3.0 mm Hg (all p values P<0.05) (1).
In Group 2 (low dose, 150mg) the blood pressures also significantly reduced, but did not normalize. The average systolic blood pressure in Group 2 at baseline was 150 +/- 3.0 mm Hg and after 4 months was 122 +/- 2.1 mm Hg. The average diastolic blood pressure in Group 2 at baseline was 91.3 +/- 2.0 mm Hg and after 4 months was 85.3 +/- 2.0 mm Hg (all p values P<0.05) (1).
In Group 3 (lifestyle modification only) the blood pressures significantly reduced, but only marginally. The average systolic blood pressure in Group 3 at baseline was 153.3 +/- 4.4 mm Hg and after 4 months was 141 +/- 4.3 mm Hg. The average diastolic blood pressure in Group 3 at baseline was 90.4 +/- 2.5 mm Hg and after 4 months was 88.9 +/- 3.2 mm Hg (all p values P<0.05) (1).
Heart rates also decreased significantly across all three groups, from 78 +/- 3.5 to 70 +/- 1.5 (beats per minute) in Group 1, from 77 +/- 3.4 to 70 +/- 1.5 (beats per minute) in Group 2 and from 77.2 +/- 3.3 to 73 +/- 2.2 (beats per minute) in Group 3 (all p values P<0.05) (1).
In conclusion, supplementing with grape seed extract in combination with lifestyle modifications shows significant decreases in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. The most significant results were in the high dosage grape seed group (300mg), in which 93% normalized their blood pressure. Future double-blind placebo controlled trials are needed to confirm these results (1).
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
Source: Belcaro, Gianni, Andrea Ledda, Shu Hu, Maria Rosa Cesarone, Beatrice Feragalli, and Mark Dugall. “Grape seed procyanidins in pre-and mild hypertension: a registry study.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013 (2013).
© 2013 Gianni Belcaro et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Posted October 1, 2013.
References:
- Belcaro G, Grape Seed Procyanidins in Pre- and Mild Hypertension: A Registry Study. 2013 Evid-Based Comp and Alt Med. doi: 10.1155/2013/313142.
- Hypertension. FastStats. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
