Grape Seed Extract Blunts Hypertension

April 19, 2003

Grape Seed Extract Blunts HypertensionMay be alternative to soy for postmenopausal women whose pressure spikesMONDAY, April 14 (HealthScoutNews) -- Moderately high amounts of grape seed extract may blunt salt-sensitive hypertension as well as plant estrogens do, says a University of Alabama at Birmingham study. The finding may be important for women entering middle age because hypertension rates jump after they reach menopause.

The researchers wanted to determine if the polyphenols in grape seed extract could provide the same benefits as plant estrogens. Previous research found that plant estrogens from soy can reduce salt-sensitive hypertension in young, estrogen-depleted spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

This study concluded that grape seed extract does reduce the hypertensive effects of a high salt diet in the rats to about the same degree as plant estrogens. That means that grape seed extract may be a useful supplement to control hypertension in postmenopausal women.

The findings were presented at the Experimental Biology meeting in San Diego, which runs from April 11 to 15.

More information

Here's where you can learn more about hypertension.