Home Ingredients VinCare® (Whole Grape Extract — Ethical Naturals)
Antioxidant

VinCare® (Whole Grape Extract — Ethical Naturals)

Vitis vinifera
Evidence Level
Preliminary
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

VinCare® is a patented whole grape (Vitis vinifera) extract from Ethical Naturals, standardized to about 80% polyphenols including proanthocyanidins. The manufacturer refers to a North American clinical study on cholesterol ratios and antioxidant activity, but that study is not in the reference list for this page and cannot be checked, so treat it as unpublished company information. The one published trial cited here tested a different material, a grape seed extract rather than whole grape extract, and it measured how easily LDL cholesterol oxidized in the lab, not cholesterol levels or ratios.

Studied Dose About 350 mg per day, taken from the manufacturer's own materials. The only published trial cited on this page used a different product, a grape seed extract, so this dose of VinCare has not been tested in any published study listed here.
Active Compound Whole grape extract standardized to about 80% polyphenols (60 to 70% proanthocyanidins).

Benefits

Cholesterol: no published study on this page

No published study on this page shows that whole grape extract changes cholesterol. The company describes a clinical study on HDL to LDL ratios, but no such study appears in the references, so it is unpublished company information until a citation exists. The single published trial cited here used a grape seed extract, not whole grape extract, and it did not measure cholesterol levels or HDL to LDL ratios at all.

Supported by Trial 1

Antioxidant defense

The one published trial cited here gave a standardized grape seed extract to heavy smokers and found that their LDL cholesterol became slower to oxidize in laboratory testing. That is a lab marker, not a proven health benefit, and the material tested was grape seed extract rather than the whole grape extract in VinCare. There is no published test of VinCare itself showing an antioxidant effect in people.

Supported by Trial 1

Blood vessels: not measured in any cited study

No study cited on this page measured blood-vessel function, blood flow or circulation, with VinCare or with any grape extract. This claim is untested here.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

LDL protection

In laboratory work, grape polyphenols associate with LDL particles and slow the oxidation of their fats. This is a proposed explanation only. Slowing oxidation in a laboratory test has not been shown to improve artery or heart health in people taking VinCare.

2

Free-radical scavenging

Proanthocyanidins and other grape polyphenols neutralize free radicals in laboratory tests. Whether that translates into a measurable health benefit for someone taking VinCare has not been shown in any published study.

Clinical trials

1
Grape seed extract and LDL oxidation in heavy smokers (a different material)
PubMed

Trial of a standardized grape seed extract on how easily LDL cholesterol oxidized in the lab, run in heavy smokers. VinCare is a whole grape extract, so this trial did not test VinCare or the same plant material. (Vigna et al. 2003, Metabolism)

Heavy smokers.

The grape seed extract made LDL cholesterol less prone to oxidation in laboratory testing. It did not show a change in cholesterol levels or in the HDL to LDL ratio, and it was not a test of VinCare, which is a whole grape extract from a different part of the plant.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated.
Mild digestive upset or headache is occasionally reported.
Discontinue if any unusual reaction occurs.

Important Drug interactions

Blood thinners such as warfarin: grape polyphenols may add to their blood-thinning effect. Talk to your doctor before combining, and stop well before any planned surgery.
Blood pressure medication — possible mild additive effect; monitor.
Tell your doctor before surgery.

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Frequently asked questions about VinCare® (Whole Grape Extract — Ethical Naturals)

What is VinCare?

VinCare® is a patented whole grape (Vitis vinifera) extract from Ethical Naturals, standardized to about 80% polyphenols including proanthocyanidins. The manufacturer refers to a North American clinical study on cholesterol ratios and antioxidant activity, but that study is not in the reference list for this page and c…

What is VinCare used for?

VinCare is researched primarily for Antioxidant. No published study on this page shows that whole grape extract changes cholesterol. The company describes a clinical study on HDL to LDL ratios, but no such study appears in the references, so it is unpublished company information until a c…

What is the recommended dosage of VinCare?

The clinically studied dose is About 350 mg per day, taken from the manufacturer's own materials. The only published trial cited on this page used a different product, a grape seed extract, so this dose of VinCare has not been tested in any published study listed here. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is VinCare safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, VinCare is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated. Mild digestive upset or headache is occasionally reported. It may also interact with some medications. VinCare is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does VinCare interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Blood thinners such as warfarin: grape polyphenols may add to their blood-thinning effect. Talk to your doctor before combining, and stop well before any planned surgery. Blood pressure medication — possible mild additive effect; monitor. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for VinCare?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for VinCare as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Vigna GB, Costantini F, Aldini G, et al. Effect of a standardized grape seed extract on low-density lipoprotein susceptibility to oxidation in heavy smokers. Metabolism. 2003;52(10):1250-7..PubMedUsed to support: Trial of a standardized grape seed extract on how easily LDL cholesterol oxidizes, in heavy smokers. This is a different plant material from VinCare's whole grape extract, and it measured a laboratory marker rather than cholesterol levels or any heart outcome.