Grapes and Grape Extracts

MuscadinePlus did not have any meaningful effect on prostate-specific antigena protein produced by both normal and malignant cells of the prostate gland; the blood level of PSA is often elevated in men with prostate cancer (PSA) doubling time among men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer.

Combined natural products including grape extracts have been linked to a slower progression of cancer among people with metastatic colorectal cancer and possibly longer time to double prostate-specific antigen levels (PSA doubling time) among people with prostate cancer.

See How can grapes and grape extracts help you? What the research says ›

Purple grape juice may lead to less platelet clumping among healthy people, but grape-red wine extracts showed no evidence of meaningful benefit. Grape seed extracts may lower platelet reactivity among smokers.

People with symptoms of metabolic syndromea cluster of conditions that occur together, including increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels drinking moderate amounts of red wine had lower risk of an abnormally large waist circumference, but grape seed extracts or products have shown little evidence of an effect on body weight or body mass index.

Red wine or grape products, but not whole grapes, have led to better blood sugar control among people with metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Juice or beverages supplemented with grape extracts may be linked to better insulin sensitivitythe body’s responsiveness to insulin, a hormone that helps to control blood sugar levels. Low insulin sensitivity is a risk factor for developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes., but red wine polyphenolscompounds found naturally in many plants and plant foods that have antioxidant properties alone do not seem to show any evidence of an effect.

Premenopausal women drinking red wine have shown changes in some sex hormones, but postmenopausal women treated with grape seed extract have not shown any evidence of effects.

Grape seed extract has been linked to lower levels of markers of inflammation. Drinking red grape juice or red wine may lead to less inflammation.

People drinking purple (Concord) grape juice or treated with polyphenols extracted from red grape seeds have shown immune activation.

People eating whole grapes or drinking grape juice have had lower levels of oxidative stressan imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body in which antioxidant levels are lower than normal; this imbalance can cause harmful oxidation reactions in your body chemistry. Grape seed extracts or grape products are also linked to lower oxidative stress, although not from a single dose.

Men drinking either red wine or the equivalent amount of nonalcoholic red wine saw changes in the levels of some groups of microbes in their microbiomesthe collection of microbes living on and within your body.

People drinking purple (Concord) grape juice or dealcoholized muscadine grape wine had higher serum vitamin C levels or vitamin E levels, but eating food supplemented with flour made from wine grape pomace did not show a meaningful effect.

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Drinking grape juice did not show an effect on endothelial function among childhood cancer survivors.

People with metastatic or unresectable cancers who were progressing on standard therapies reported higher physical well-being when treated with grape seed extract.

People with breast hardening from prior radiotherapy did not find any meaningful effect on breast hardness, pain, or tenderness when treated with grape seed proanthocyanidinnatural compounds found in foods including apple, blueberry, cinnamon, and grape seed that have antioxidant properties extract.

Outcomes not specific to people with cancer:

Drinking red wine or eating food processed from wine grapes has led to lower blood pressure. Red grape cell powder and grape-red wine extracts may also lead to better markers of cardiovascular function.

Grape seed extract is linked to several effects:

• Lower anxiety or depression scores and higher muscle mass among women with at least one menopausal symptom
• Better markers of cardiovascular function, including lower blood pressure, but insufficient evidencepreclinical evidence only OR clinical studies with such poor or unclear methodology that no conclusion can be drawn OR conflicting findings across clinical studies with no preponderance of evidence in one direction; conflicting evidence occurs when studies find conflicting effects (positive effect vs no effect or negative effect) with the same treatment and the same general study population (same cancer type, for example) (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of an effect on endothelial dysfunctiona type of non-obstructive coronary artery disease with no heart artery blockages, but the large blood vessels on the heart’s surface narrow (constrict) instead of opening (dilating)
• Better markers of cardiovascular health among people with prehypertension or mild hypertension
• Lower scores for hot flashes, less sleep disruption, and better physical symptoms among women with at least one menopausal symptom
• Lower stress among healthy men and postmenopausal women with mild hypertension

People with an above-average energy requirement showed slightly lower energy consumption when treated with grape seed extract.

Healthy young adults drinking purple grape juice, and those treated with grape seed extract, showed some improvements in reaction time and psychomotor skills. Older adults eating raisins showed some improvements in cognitive function, better quality of life, and greater autonomy in activities of daily living.

Children with β-thalassemia major treated with grape seed extract may show lower levels of markers of liver dysfunction.

People treated with topical grape seed extract ointment or cream after surgery or excision experienced better wound healing.

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People with suspected or documented colorectal cancer treated with grape powder may have shown lower expression of a key signaling pathway involved in colon cancer initiation.

Healthy males drinking red wine with the highest polyphenolcompounds found naturally in many plants and plant foods that have antioxidant properties content may have shown a higher marker of protection against redness from exposure to ultraviolet light—a risk factor for melanoma and other skin cancers.

People with erosive oral lichen planus—a risk factor for cancer—rinsing with anthocyaninsnatural compounds found in many red, blue, and purple vegetables and fruits that have antioxidant properties extracted from grape skin may show better symptom scores and morphology of oral mucosa lesions.

See How can grapes and grape extracts help you? What the research says ›

• Used in several of our program sources
• Not mentioned in integrative cancer clinical practice guidelines

See How do experts use grapes and grape extracts? ›

• Generally safe, with only minor side effects
• Purple grape juice may interact with cyclosporin A.

See Safety and precautions ›

• Grapes and grape extracts are widely available without restriction and generally inexpensive (less than $500 US/year), depending on the dose.

See Affordability and access ›