About this ingredient
Grape Seed Extract (MegaNatural®-BP) is a specialized grape seed extract derived from Vitis vinifera seeds. MegaNatural®-BP is manufactured from selected unfermented red and varietal white wine/juice grape seeds using hot-water extraction, followed by purification, concentration, and spray drying.
Grape seeds naturally contain polyphenols, including proanthocyanidins and other phenolic compounds. These compounds have antioxidant properties and have been investigated for their effects on vascular and endothelial function.
MegaNatural®-BP has been specifically studied in human clinical trials. Manufacturer-reported randomized, placebo-controlled research at UC Davis evaluated the ingredient in subjects with metabolic syndrome and subjects with prehypertensive blood-pressure ranges. These studies reported improvements in blood-pressure measurements while maintaining levels within the normal range.
Broader research on grape seed extract has also investigated blood pressure and lipid markers. NCCIH notes that a 2022 review of 19 studies involving 1,080 participants found reductions in diastolic blood pressure, although results varied between studies and the evidence should not be interpreted as definitive.
Because the exact composition of grape seed extracts can differ substantially, research performed on MegaNatural®-BP should not automatically be applied to every generic grape seed extract. Product standardization and authentication are therefore important when describing this branded ingredient.