Grape Seed Polyphenols have heart protection activity

Isoproterenol is a drug that increases the pulse rate dramatically, triggers palpitations, sinus tachycardia, and more serious arrhythmias. It also causes cardiac ischemia. Grape Seed Extract proanthocyanidins was fed to rats at three different potencies 6 days a week for 5 weeks. The rats were then injected with Isoproterenol for two days to cause heart damage. After an additional two days it was found that Grape Seed Polyphenols had prevented a rise in enzymes that increase when the heart, the liver, the lungs, or other major organs are damaged (AST, ALT, LDH, and CK). The Grape Seed also maintained blood levels of Glutathione, SOD, and Catalase even under the influence of Isoproterenol. When the heart muscle itself was evaluated it was found that Grape Seed prevented damage to the heart muscle. The study is published in the July 6th issue of the International Journal of Cardiology.

Studies show it is not the caffeine which helps decrease the risk of developing diabetes but probably the polyphenols.