In grape seed oil, linoleic acid, which belongs to omega-6 fatty acids, dominates. These are essential fatty acids that the body cannot produce on its own and must be consumed with food. They play an important role in growth and development, as well as in brain functions. Due to the high content of linoleic acid, cold-pressed grape seed oil is good for a vital cardiovascular system. Oils that are high in unsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic and oleic acids, raise good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL).
Cold-pressed grape seed oil is rich in phytosterols, which are the best-known sterols in plant tissues. They are found in grains, fruits, vegetables and vegetable fats. Because they are similar in structure to cholesterol, they can compete with them and displace cholesterol during absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, which can lead to a decrease in blood plasma cholesterol. Phytosterols are thus associated with prevention of cardiovascular diseases (Modic and Kreft, 2001).
Flavonoids are also present in grape seed oil. Flavonoids are a form of polyphenols found in food of plant origin. They are the substances that give fruits and vegetables their color and are strong antioxidants. We also need to consume flavonoids with food, as the body cannot produce them on its own. Eating food with a high content of flavonoids reduces the occurrence of many diseases caused by oxidative stress (Vrhovšek, 2001). They help preserve memory and other cognitive abilities.
The next important elements in grape seed oil are tocopherols and tocotrienols, which are a form of vitamin E. The content of vitamin E in grape seed oil is high and ranges from 60 - 120 mg/ 100 g. In other words, a teaspoon of cold-pressed grapeseed oil contains 9 mg of vitamin E. Due to such a high content of vitamin E, grape seed oil is also one of the most stable oils (Lugue-Rodriguez et al., 2005).
In addition to vitamin E, it contains cold-pressed grape seed oil and vitamins A and C. These elements act as antioxidants, which means that they bind free radicals in the body and thus inhibit oxidation processes. If there are too many free radicals in our body, they trigger many unwanted chemical reactions due to their reactivity and thus damage cells. Eating food rich in antioxidants is said to inhibit the aging of the body and the onset of diseases such as cancer, heart attack, diabetes and arthritis.