Brain Acuity
- Many of us are worried about keeping our brains functioning optimally
as we get older. Can OPC's help with brain function?
Actually, older people are not the only ones who may benefit
mentally from taking OPC's - younger people can, too. Not only
does OPC's reduce the fragility of the capillaries, including
those in the brain. This helps to ensure a good supply of oxygen
and nutrients to the brain, which is of increasing importance
as we age. Moreover, OPC's may help to improve circulation in
general, which is another key element to maintaining peak brain
function. Finally, although we don't normally think of the brain
as requiring much energy, in fact it is an important consumer
of glucose and oxygen. This means that it is subject to the production
of free radicals arising from normal metabolism. OPC's super antioxidant
properties can help protect the brain from damage due to free
radicals. If you don't always eat five servings of fruits and
vegetables daily, OPCXtra can provide some of the nutrients you're
missing.
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The daily consumption of OPC can play a significant role in helping
to prevent disease. For example, OPC has demonstrated benefits
in ensuring normal brain function. It is one of the few anti-oxidant
nutrients that readily cross the blood/brain barrier. This barrier
normally protects the brain from compounds circulating in the
blood, because brain cells are sensitive to certain compounds
that may not irritate other body cells.
Preservation of brain cells will improve memory and reduce senility.
OPC can help to improve circulation, which may explain the reports
that it has improved sluggish memory.
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Brain nerve cells (neurons) are particularly susceptible to free
radical damage. In 2002, researchers from Melbourne University
(Australia) published study findings that indicate that oxidative
damage to brain tissue occurs when copper binds to proteins, producing
free radicals. The researchers suspect that when copper binds
to a specific protein - the amyloid - hard plaques form that clog
the brain tissue, which is the mechanism that they suspect contributes
to Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Bagchi and team from Creighton University
School of Pharmacy (Nebraska USA) found that OPCs from grape seed
extract offered protection against damage, including DNA breakage,
to brain tissue commonly found with exposure to free radicals.
In fact, Dr Bagchi found that grape seed extract was far superior
to vitamin C and beta-carotene in preventing DNA breakage (50%
protection by grape seed extract, versus 14% y vitamin C and 11%
by beta-carotene).
Several studies have documented the beneficial effect of OPCs
in experimentally induced damage to brain cells. Dr. De Ruvo and
colleagues from the Instituto di Ricerche Famacologiche (Italy)
studied the effect of OPCs on cells located in the cerebellum
area of the brain of rats that were exposed to agents know to
cause degeneration to those cells. Dr. De Ruvo found that red
wine extract prevented the death of the exposed cells. Red wine
extract did this better than vitamin E, and to the same extent
of Vitamin C. Dr. De Ruvo attributes this anti-degenerative effect
to the free radical scavenging OPCs present in red wine extract.
Additionally, in the lab setting Dr. Kobayashi and colleagues
from University of California (USA) exposed brain cells to a toxic
agent. The model mimics the cellular damage that is characteristic
of Alzheimer's disease and brain diseases involving reduced blood
flow to the brain. They found that extracts of pine bark were
effective in preventing the cellular damage that would otherwise
have taken place that they suspect contributes to Alzheimer's
disease. Dr. Bagchi and team from Creighton University School
of Pharmacy (Nebraska USA) found that OPCs from grape seed extract
offered protection against damage, including DNA breakage, to
brain tissue commonly found with exposure to free radicals. In
fact, Dr. Bagchi found that grape seed extract was far superior
to vitamin C and beta-carotene in preventing DNA breakage (50%
protection by grape seed extract, versus 14% by vitamin C and
11% by beta-carotene).
Several studies have documented the beneficial effect of OPCs
in experimentally induced damage to brain cells. Dr. De Ruvo
