Grape Extract and Exercise Effects on Blood Pressure

Exercise and grape extract intake (i.e., polyphenol-rich product) can independently improve blood pressure and endothelial function in prehypertensive individuals. Nevertheless, their combined effects remain unexplored. Furthermore, since the biological pathways targeted by both interventions are similar, they could overlap and be amplified by one another, promoting additive or synergistic effects. Animal model studies have reported that a grape seed extract intake prevents exercise-induced oxidative stress, which could improve vascular dysfunction. Furthermore, as previously reported, a single dose of grape seed extract reduces blood pressure, peripheral vasoconstriction, and heart stress, enhancing O2 delivery during exercise in prehypertensive males. These effects may be partly due to endothelium-dependent vasodilation enhancement. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the potential impact of exercise and grape extract on blood pressure and vascular function in prehypertensive individuals.