ActiVin (Vitis vinifera) (Vitis vinifera)

ActiVin is a standardized grape seed extract (Vitis vinifera) concentrate, not a whole food, so macronutrient content (fat, carbohydrate, protein) is negligible at typical supplemental doses (50–300 mg/day). Primary bioactive compounds are oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), standardized to a minimum of 95% polyphenols/OPCs by manufacturer specification — this is the defining characteristic of the ActiVin branded extract. Specific constituents include: procyanidin dimers (B1, B2, B3, B4), trimers, and higher oligomers; catechin and epicatechin monomers (estimated 5–15% of total polyphenol content); gallic acid esters of the above (e.g., epicatechin-3-O-gallate); and trace resveratrol (stilbene), though concentrations are not standardized in seed extract and are generally low (<0.1% of extract weight). No meaningful vitamin or mineral content is present at supplemental doses. Fiber content is absent in the extract form. Bioavailability: OPC monomers (catechin, epicatechin) demonstrate moderate oral bioavailability (~20–40% absorption in humans); larger oligomers (trimers and above) show substantially lower intestinal absorption and are partially metabolized by colonic microbiota into smaller phenolic acids (e.g., 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid, protocatechuic acid) which may contribute to systemic effects. Peak plasma concentrations of catechin/epicatechin typically occur 1–2 hours post-ingestion. The ActiVin brand is produced by Constellation Brands/IEV using a water-based extraction process, which preserves native OPC profiles without solvent residues, but specific lot-to-lot concentration data beyond the 95% polyphenol standardization is not publicly documented.