Course : Pharmacology 

To the many individuals who wish to either improve or maintain their health I suspect antioxidants would be the aisle they would look in. Antioxidants as some of you reading might know  help neutralize free radicals which allows the body to be detoxified and protected. Fortunately many of us have access to indulge in the many fruits with enough of these antioxidants. Some of the healthy enthusiasts crave more. In addition they feel to maintain their health they must get more from supplements. Individuals will buy anything if it’s in front of them. I am not a supporter or a skeptic of supplements. I do recognize that  supplements have become a matter of convenience. All I wish to say is I wish people would read the back labels of the products they are putting in their body. Many don’t bother reading the active ingredients or their percentages.

As I had walked into Rite Aid and CVS pharmacy I was surprised of the lack of customer service. For people not knowing anything about the product I could see how someone might make a purchase and not know what the product is used for. Sometimes what the front label claims to do is unclear. Not obtaining the information and the suggested directions is simply unacceptable. I was also unhappy with the brand names they carried. As I did some quick browsing I found that some of the companies had low levels of effectiveness according to websites like consumerlabs.com. I then walked into a Vitamin shoppe where I saw a massive aisle dedicated to antioxidants. From an outside perspective I could see how many could be overwhelmed with an entire wall filled with antioxidants supplements. The staff were knowledgable and gave me a general idea of which antioxidants I could have the option of choosing according to my desired needs. To name a few Pycnogenol, Tumeric, Reservtrol, Green tea extact and Grapefruit seed extract were displayed. They varied in form ( capsule, tablet, powder, vegi-caps, and extract. They also differentiated in milligram and additives like CoQ10, maca, or a proprietary blend.The doses ranged from 25mg to 100mg. To connect on a general level I could  how some people could raise questions like which one should I get ? and how many mg can I take or begin with? Some often may be unsure of the side effects.

Well there were many I have become familiarized with but I choose to further investigate what is Grape Seed and what may it do. First and foremost all of the grapeseed products I picked up noted it was evaluated by the FDA. Equally as important it said “ this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease” No supplements are miracle pills and I don’t believe people realize that. To briefly summarize grapeseed is what it’s what the name says.  Seeds taken from red wine grapes are extracted. Although fairly new there have been reports claiming grapeseed extract may be beneficial for several cardiovascular conditions. This appeals to individuals who suffer from poor circulation, especially those with complications related to diabetes, such as nerve and eye damage; vision problems, such as macular degeneration (which can cause blindness); swelling after an injury or surgery; cancer prevention; and wound healing are fall into the category of individuals who have poor circulation. (NIH.gov). Interestly grapeseed extract may also be used for high cholesterol, and reduction of swelling after an injury. . Researchers are studying grape seed extract to see if it might lower the risks of some cancers. For now, the evidence has been not clear.

To turn the attention on side effects and drug interactions reports claim there is no firmly established dose rate. However, 100-300 mgs have been used and prescribed. Althought the Vitamin shoppe did not carry anything higher than 100mg there are higher doses available.   Common side effects include dry, itchy scalp; dizziness; headache; high blood pressure; hives; indigestion; and nausea. Obvioisly individuals allergic to grapes should avoid this product. I wasn’t able retrive research articles about grapeseed extracts contraindications with other drugs. I was however able to find one. Individuals with known hypersensivity as only a few showed side effects like headache and allergic reaction. No known toxicity has been reported for grapeseed extract.

Lastly I was fortunate to find the grapeseed extract has implications in the oral/dental health. Acccording to an article found in the Journal of nutrition  “Grape seed extract, high in proanthocyanidins, positively affected the in vitro demineralization and/or remineralization processes of artificial root caries lesions, suggesting its potential as a promising natural agent for noninvasive root caries therapy.” Now it would make sense how an antioxidant could affect indiduals with Periodontal disease. As I know by know Periodontal disease is a group of chronic inflammatory diseases caused by specific anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria that activate immunoinflammatory mechanisms within the local periodontal tissues, leading to the destruction of collagen and bone supporting the teeth. If this antioxidant fights off the free radicals I could see how this may benefit the periodontal disease patients.