Nutritional supplement

Composition
One soft capsule contains 250 mg powder of red grape (Vitis vinifera) seeds and red grape (Vitis vinifera) seeds extract, containing 14 mg oligomeric proanthocyanidins.

Recommendations for use:
• prophylaxis in treatment of cardiovascular diseases,
• increased blood pressure,
• progress of atherosclerosis.

Action of active substances
Grape seed extract
Grape seed extract contains oligomeric proanthocyanidin. These are biologically active substances – polyphenols. Their antioxidative properties are 20 times more potent that vitamin C and 50 times more potent that vitamin E. Polyphenols decrease the oxidation of low density (bad) cholesterol, increase high density (good) cholesterol concentration in blood plasma, inhibit thrombocytes aggregation, increase fibrinolysis (clot solving), protect from the formation of the clots and relax small blood vessels spasm, also improve the endothelium function, normalize the blood pressure and protect from infarct and stroke. Polyphenols may decrease the atherosclerosis risk. Antioxidants decrease the oxidation of low density lipids and their phagocytosis in endothelium, increase high density lipids concentration from 10 to 30 percent. Atherosclerotic plaques are formed in the blood vessels endothelium because of the oxidation and phagocytation of the low density lipids. High density lipids protect from atherosclerosis by increasing the elimination of low density lipoproteins.
The term “French paradox” can be found in science literature. The term first appeared in 1979 after the medicinal journal “The Lancet” published a scientific research that data showed people in France compared to other western countries to suffer relatively low incidence of death due to coronary heart disease despite their diet being rich in fat as well. Other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases – smoking, obesity and high blood pressure – were equally frequent in France as in other countries.
Scientists related “French paradox” phenomenon with the daily red wine consumption. Polyphenols that act as antioxidants protect from heart diseases. Large amount of polyphenols that protect from heart diseases are consumed while drinking red wine, however, alcohol that is harmful for the organism is consumed as well. Preparations with red grape extract do not contain alcohol and they are safe to be consumed for a long time.

Scientific researches demonstrating the efficiency
* Vision in the night improves in 6 weeks after the administration of the polyphenols. Polyphenols stabilize the wall of the blood vessels; reduce the progress of the atherosclerosis. (Van Golde PM, Sloots et al. The role of alcohol in the anti low density lipoprotein oxidation activity of red wine. Atherosclerosis 1999; 147: 365 – 370.)
* Double blind placebo controlled study showed that leg swelling and heaviness improved in 75 percent cases of persons suffering from venous circulation insufficiency after 1 month of administration of polyphenols. (Kiesewetter H, Koscielny J, Kalus U, Vix JM, Peil H, Petrini O, van Toor BS, de Mey C. 2000. Efficacy of orally administered extract of red vine leaf AS 195 (folia vitis viniferae) in chronic venous insufficiency (stages I-II). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arzneimittelforschung 2000 Feb; 50(2): 109-17.)
* Polyphenols can easily cross hematoencephalic barrier, protect brain from free radicals effect, may help to avoid Alzheimer disease. (Knekt P, Isotupa S, Rissanen H, Heliovaara M, Jarvinen R, Hakkinen S, Aromaa A, Reunanen A. Quercetin intake and the incidence of cerebrovascular disease. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000 May;54(5):415-7.)
* Polyphenols help to keep skin elasticity, protect skin from early wrinkles.
* Polyphenols have antinflammatory and antialergic effects. (Hollman PC, Katan MB. Dietary flavonoids: intake, health effects and bioavailability. Food Chem Toxicol. 1999 Sep-Oct;37(9-10):937-42.)
* Polyphenols have antimalignant effect. (Jang, M., Cai, L., Udeani, G.O., Slowing, K.V., Thomas, C.F., Beecher, C.W.W., Fong, H.H.S., Farnsworth, N.R., Kinghorn, A.D., Mehta, R.G., Moon, R.C. and Pezzuto, J.M. Science volume 10:218-221, 1997)

Literature:
Malcolm Law, Nicholas Wald Why heart mortality is low in France: the time lag explanation. BMJ 1999; 318:1471-80.
1. N Gall Is wine good for your heart? A critical review. Postgrad Med J 2001; 77:172-176.
2. Renaud S C, Ruf J-C Effects of alcohol on platelet function. Clin Chim Acta 1996; 246:77-89;
3. Pace-Asciak CR et al. The red wine phenolics trans resveratrol and quercetin block human platelet aggregation and eicosanoid synthesis. Clin Chim Acta 1995; 253: 207-219.
4. Flesch M, Schwarz A, Bohm M. Effects of red and white wine on endothelium-dependent vasarelaxation of rat aorta and human coronary arteries. Am J Physiol 1998; 275: H 1183-1190.
5. Miyagi Y., Miwa K. Inhibition of human low-density lipoprotein oxidation by flavonoids in red wine and grape juice. Am J Cardiol 1997; 80: 1627 – 1631.
6. Van Golde PM, Sloots et al. The role of alcohol in the anti low density lipoprotein oxidation activity of red wine. Atherosclerosis 1999; 147: 365 – 370.
7. Frankel EN, Waterhouse AL. Inhibition of human LDL oxidation by resveratrol. Lancet 1993; 341: 1103 – 1104.