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Vitis vinifera seed extract reduces venous reflux time in patients with varicose veins: VICTORY randomized controlled trial.

  • 2026-01
  • Journal of vascular surgery. Venous and lymphatic disorders 14(1)
    • SungA Bae
    • Hakju Kim
    • Nak-Hoon Son
    • Minkwan Kim
    • Sungjoon Park
    • In Hyun Jung

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 176
Population
176 participants (88/group) aged 19 to 80 years with varicose veins and venous reflux confirmed by Doppler ultrasound
Methods
Prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial; oral VVSE (150 mg twice daily) plus therapeutic lifestyle changes vs therapeutic lifestyle changes alone over 12 weeks
Blinding
Open-label
Duration
12 weeks
Funding
Unclear
  • Large Human Trial

Background

Varicose veins affect 25% to 40% of adults, with higher prevalence in older populations. Although Vitis vinifera seed extract (VVSE) can alleviate symptoms of venous insufficiency, its effects on venous reflux remain uncertain. We hypothesized that oral VVSE supplementation would significantly reduce venous reflux time compared with lifestyle modifications alone in patients with lower extremity varicose veins.

Methods

This prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial enrolled adults aged 19 to 80 years with varicose veins and venous reflux confirmed by Doppler ultrasound (≥0.5 seconds in superficial veins or ≥1 second in deep veins). Patients were provided oral VVSE (150 mg twice daily) plus therapeutic lifestyle changes or therapeutic lifestyle changes alone (control) over 12 weeks. The mean venous reflux time, changes in specific vein reflux times, proportion achieving improved reflux (≤0.5 seconds for superficial veins, ≤1 second for deep veins), Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and Chronic Venous Insufficiency Quality of Life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) score were compared.

Results

Among 176 participants (88/group), the VVSE group experienced significantly greater reductions in mean venous reflux time. Improvements were observed in both superficial and deep veins, with notable effects in the great saphenous and popliteal veins. The proportion of patients achieving improved venous reflux was significantly higher in the VVSE group. The VVSE group also demonstrated superior symptom improvement, with greater reductions in VCSS and CIVIQ-14 scores.

Conclusions

VVSE significantly reduced venous reflux time across both superficial and deep veins, improving patient-reported symptoms compared with lifestyle modifications alone. The beneficial effects were consistent across diverse patient subgroups and particularly noteworthy in deep venous insufficiency.

Research Insights

  • Grape→Improved Quality of Life

    greater reductions in VCSS and CIVIQ-14 scores

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    150 mg twice daily
  • Grape→Improved Reflux

    The proportion of patients achieving improved venous reflux was significantly higher in the VVSE group

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    150 mg twice daily
  • Grape→Improved Venous Clinical Severity Score

    greater reductions in VCSS and CIVIQ-14 scores

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    150 mg twice daily
  • Grape→Reduced Venous Reflux Time

    the VVSE group experienced significantly greater reductions in mean venous reflux time

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    150 mg twice daily
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