What is resveratrol for and why combine it with grape OPC

This daily scene is what we might call "the modern worker's paradox". Our circulatory system is exhausted at the end of the day due to a markedly sedentary lifestyle.

Far from the old myths that suggested consuming alcohol (like the daily glass of wine) to take care of circulation, nowadays it is possible to isolate the active compounds of the vine to offer their benefits in a pure form.

As a preview, here is a summary of what the synergy between resveratrol and grape OPC can do for the body:

Physiological benefit	Key Component	Main Action
Relief from heavy legs	Vine extracts	Contributes to good blood flow and supports leg vein function.¹
Antioxidant cellular protection	Grape seed (OPC)	Neutralises free radicals, protecting cells against oxidation.²
Blood pressure maintenance	Grape extracts and Resveratrol	Supports vascular flexibility, contributing to a healthy blood pressure.⁴
Comprehensive skin care	Grape seed	Improves skin appearance by maintaining capillary function from the inside.³

 

Next we are going to delve into exactly what these compounds are, what each one provides and why the most advanced formulations combine them.

 

What exactly is resveratrol and what is it for?

Resveratrol is a biological compound classified as a phytoalexin. In the plant kingdom, phytoalexins are antimicrobial and antioxidant substances that plants synthesise as a direct response to an environmental stress situation.

When a plant such as the vine (Vitis vinifera) is exposed to external aggressions, such as excessive ultraviolet radiation, lack of water or fungal attack, its metabolism produces resveratrol to protect its tissues and ensure its survival.

To take advantage of resveratrol's properties as a modulator of oxidative stress, the best thing is to resort to purified extraction. In fact, the most concentrated and bioavailable natural source of Trans-resveratrol (the molecular form that the human body assimilates best) is not the grape, but the root of an Asian plant called Polygonum cuspidatum.

In this way, the cellular benefits of resveratrol are obtained without the harmful effects of alcohol.

Grape OPCs: the advantage of high assimilation

While resveratrol is mainly found in the roots and skin of the grape, the seeds of this fruit harbour another group of compounds of enormous nutritional interest: OPCs.

The acronym OPC stands for Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins. It is a class of polyphenols (powerful natural antioxidants) that stand out for a fundamental characteristic that defines what they bring to any high-quality product: their high bioavailability.

What grape OPC brings to a food supplement is, therefore, a fast-acting antioxidant that travels through the blood plasma, showing an extraordinary affinity for connective tissue, especially for the proteins that give structure to our blood vessels and our skin.

Why is it key to combine resveratrol and grape OPC?

If both phytochemicals possess antioxidant properties, it is common to wonder why it is necessary to take them together.

• By combining different botanical molecules, a complementary action is achieved that encompasses more metabolic pathways than if they were taken separately.

Oxidative stress and circulatory deterioration do not occur in a single part of our cells, so a comprehensive approach is much more effective:

• Action of resveratrol

  This compound has a high capacity to act at the intracellular level. It modulates signalling pathways within the cell itself, helping to protect DNA and optimising the cellular response to wear and oxidation.

• Action of OPCs

  For their part, proanthocyanidins act outstandingly in the extracellular environment and in the bloodstream itself. Their great structural affinity for collagen and elastin allows them to protect and support the capillary walls and connective tissue.

Seeking a balanced combination of Resveratrol and grape OPC guarantees complete coverage. While resveratrol modulates the deep oxidative response, OPCs reinforce the structural integrity of blood vessels and skin. They complement each other to offer more robust cardiovascular and antioxidant support.

Benefits

1. Contribution to the relief of heavy legs and blood flow

Red vine leaf extracts could contribute to maintaining good blood flow in the legs, which can notably reduce the feeling of tired and heavy legs¹.

These active ingredients help stabilise venous walls, decreasing their permeability. By reducing the amount of fluid that filters into the surrounding tissues, swelling or oedema is minimised. Traditionally, the vine has been the botanical resource par excellence to help maintain healthy vein functions¹.

2. Protection against premature oxidative stress

The process of cellular respiration, digestion, emotional stress or simple exposure to environmental pollution generate the so-called "free radicals". These are unstable molecules that, in their quest to balance themselves, damage the surrounding healthy cells, causing what we know as oxidative stress. This process is one of the main culprits of premature cellular ageing.

The grape seed contains natural antioxidants in its phytochemical matrix. The consumption of these antioxidants could help protect the body from the harmful action of free radicals, safeguarding cells and tissues against continuous oxidation². They neutralise these unstable molecules before they can cause structural alterations in the body.

3. Maintenance of healthy blood pressure

The proper functioning of the cardiovascular system depends not only on the heart muscle, but on the elasticity and health of the endothelium (the inner lining of our arteries and veins). When blood vessels suffer oxidative stress, they tend to become stiffer, forcing the heart to pump harder.

The phytochemical extracts of the grape could actively contribute to maintaining healthy blood pressure⁴. By protecting the endothelium and maintaining the proper tone of the arteries, they would facilitate blood flow with a lower and more stabilised resistance, providing excellent cardiovascular support.

4. Cutaneous capillary care and nutricosmetics from the inside

A basic principle of dermatology is that the outer state of the dermis reflects inner nutrition. The skin is fed through a microscopic network of blood vessels called capillaries. If this microcirculation is deficient, nutrients and oxygen do not reach the upper layers, causing a loss of radiance and firmness.

By incorporating grape seed extracts rich in OPCs, not only is the deep vascular network supported, but they are traditionally used to support the capillary function of the skin¹. Through proper irrigation of dermal tissues, these compounds would help improve the overall health and visual appearance of the skin³, promoting the maintenance of the body's own collagen structures.

Side effects and contraindications

The main effect to keep in mind regarding OPCs and resveratrol is their mild antiplatelet property. That is, they have a natural capacity to "thin" the blood very slightly. In a healthy adult, this is exactly what promotes optimal vascular flow, but in people with certain conditions, it can generate unwanted interactions.

Who should not take grape extracts and resveratrol?

• People on anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment.
• Patients with scheduled surgeries.
• Pregnancy and lactation period: As a universal precautionary measure, since there are no conclusive clinical studies on the safety of high doses of these polyphenols in foetal development or in infants, their use is discouraged during these stages.

A breather for your legs (and for your cells)

Reaching the end of the day with swollen legs or feeling that the current pace of life is taking its toll on us does not have to become our inevitable routine.

It is no longer necessary to believe in myths or try to justify that daily glass of wine to take care of our circulation. The teamwork of resveratrol and grape OPCs could end up being noticed in things as everyday as feeling your limbs lighter when taking off your shoes or seeing how our skin maintains a healthier appearance.

• Give back a little of the natural balance that a sedentary lifestyle, screens and stress take away from you and end the day stepping as strong as you started it.

Bibliography

1. Extracted from the EFSA health claims application list, under evaluation (ID 2157).
2. Extracted from the EFSA health claims application list, under evaluation (ID 2156).
3. Extracted from the EFSA health claims application list, under evaluation (ID 2158).
4. Extracted from the EFSA health claims application list, under evaluation (ID 2159).
5. Resveratrol and health--a comprehensive review of human clinical trials. Smoliga, J. M., Baur, J. A., & Hausenblas, H. A. (2011). Molecular nutrition & food research, 55(8), 1129-1141.
6. The journey of resveratrol from yeast to human. Timmers, S., Auwerx, J., & Schrauwen, P. (2012). Aging (Albany NY), 4(3), 146-158.

This article is strictly for informational purposes and does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional.