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NEW ORLEANS, Mar 20 (Reuters Health) - Contrary to marketing hype, grape seed extract does not appear to be an effective therapy for seasonal allergies, according to study findings presented Tuesday at the 57th annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Dr. David Bernstein and colleagues at the Bernstein Clinical Research Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, studied the effects of grape seed extract among 51 people with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Patients received an 8-week course of either the extract or an inactive placebo, beginning just before ragweed season.
The investigators found no significant differences between the groups in symptoms, antihistamine use, quality of life, or white blood cell counts.
"With all the herbal remedies that are being marketed for allergic rhinitis, we decided it was time somebody objectively studied the efficacy of one of these agents," Bernstein told Reuters Health. "We selected grape seed extract because it is touted as being a natural antihistamine and as being effective in about 70% of seasonal allergic rhinitis patients," he said.
"Because the study involved a small sample of patients, we could only investigate trends," Bernstein pointed out. "To be absolutely sure that there is no efficacy with grape seed extract, a much larger study group would probably be needed."
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