What are the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) on blood pressure and vascular endothelial function in middle-aged Japanese adults with prehypertension?
Grape Seed Extract, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 24 women (Nutrients 2019, PMID 31757033) — changes in Einc and PWV from baseline to 12 weeks were significantly greater in the high-dose group compared to the placebo group. FMD did not change in any group.
Source: Nutrients 2019, PMID 31757033 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: high
Nutrients · 2019 · PMID 31757033 · DOI 10.3390/nu11122844
High-dose grape seed extract may help lower blood pressure and improve vascular elasticity in middle-aged Japanese adults with prehypertension, especially non-smokers.
The question
What are the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) on blood pressure and vascular endothelial function in middle-aged Japanese adults with prehypertension?
What they tested
The study hypothesized that GSPE consumption would improve blood pressure and vascular endothelial function in middle-aged Japanese adults with prehypertension.
How they did it
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted on 6 men and 24 women aged 40-64 years with prehypertension. Participants were randomized to receive either 200 mg/day GSPE, 400 mg/day GSPE, or placebo for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and other cardiovascular parameters were measured at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks.
What they found
After 12 weeks, the high-dose GSPE group (400 mg/day) showed a significant decrease in mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 13 mmHg. FMD did not change in any group. In a post-hoc analysis of non-smoking participants, the high-dose group also showed significant improvements in mean SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), stiffness parameter β, distensibility, incremental elastic modulus (Einc), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) after 12 weeks. Changes in Einc and PWV from baseline to 12 weeks were significantly greater in the high-dose group compared to the placebo group.
What it means
Consumption of high-dose GSPE (400 mg/day) may help maintain vascular elasticity and normal blood pressure in middle-aged Japanese adults with prehypertension, particularly in non-smokers.
Limitations
The study's primary analysis did not find changes in FMD, and some significant findings were from an ad hoc analysis of a subgroup (non-smokers). The sample size was relatively small (30 participants).
The paper at a glance
| Title | Effects of Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract on Vascular Endothelial Function in Prehypertension: a Randomized Controlled Study |
|---|---|
| Journal | Nutrients |
| Year | 2019 |
| PMID | 31757033 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.3390/nu11122844 ↗ |
| Topic | Cardiovascular & vascular aging |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
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Grape Seed Extract
Randomized trials and meta-analyses indicate that grape seed extract can modestly lower blood pressure — pooled systolic reductions of roughly 2–6 mmHg, larger in younger, obese, or metabolic-syndrome patients — and may improve markers of blood glucose, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammation.
Grape seed extract (GSE) is a polyphenol-rich preparation made from the seeds of wine grapes (Vitis…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). What are the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) on blood pressure and vascular endothelial function in middle-aged Japanese adults with prehypertension? [Plain-English summary of Nutrients 2019, PMID 31757033, DOI 10.3390/nu11122844]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31757033.html@misc{magellan_d31757033,
title = {What are the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) on blood pressure and vascular endothelial function in middle-aged Japanese adults with prehypertension?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31757033.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 31757033; DOI 10.3390/nu11122844; Nutrients 2019. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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