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| Food/Beverage | Serving | Total Resveratrol (mg) | Red wines (Spanish) | 5 oz/148 ml | 0.29-1.89 | Red grape juice (Spanish) | 5 oz/148 ml | 0.17-1.30 | Peanuts (boiled) | 1 cup/180 g | 0.32-1.28 | Red grapes | 1 cup/160 g | 0.24-1.25 |
| Red wines (global) | 5 oz/148 ml | 0.30-1.07 | Rose wines (Spanish) | 5 oz/148 ml | 0.06-0.53 | White wines (Spanish) | 5 oz/148 ml | 0.01-0.27 | Peanuts (raw) | 1 cup/146 g | 0.01-0.26 | Peanut butter | 1 cup/146 g | 0.04-0.13 |
Much of what is known about resveratrol originally came from research on red wine and other alcohols. Moderate consumption of alcohol has been associated with significant reductions in heart and vascular disease risk. Researchers had wanted to explain the “French Paradox:” how France has relatively low mortality and coronary heart disease despite high levels of dietary saturated fat and cigarette smoking. Since the French drink much wine, research focused on wine’s chemical properties.
How Does It Work?
According to the Mayo Clinic, it's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may contribute to cardiovascular health.
Interestingly, the studies performed on humans in this area are not conclusive—some research supports the conclusion that polyphenols like resveratrol as well as substances called flavonoids are responsible, while other research cannot separate the effects of these compounds from simply the alcohol itself. In other words, perhaps it is merely moderate alcohol consumption that helps.
The scale tips somewhat in its favor when one considers the findings of cancer studies performed without alcohol. For example, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports that both cell culture and animal studies have demonstrated some evidence of it’s cancer prevention benefits.
Will It Work for You?
The bottom line is that the puzzle still has many missing pieces.
Cardiovascular Benefits. While the results from the red wine studies do show that in mice there are potentially heart protective benefits, the concentrations required are higher than those measured in humans after oral ingestion—certainly much more than one could get from 1-2 glasses of red wine. Indeed, while it is readily absorbed into our blood stream, 50% is eliminated from our bodies within 24 hours.
Cancer Prevention. In cancer research, it has been found to inhibit the growth of some human cancer cell lines, but only in animal studies. Again, scientists are still studying whether the concentrations used in mice to attain this result are feasible in humans.
Longer Life. Restricting calorie intake is known to extend lifespan in many species, including humans. Feeding resveratrol to yeast, worms, mice and vertebrate fish has been shown to have the same effect as reducing calorie intake.
In other words, for these lower organisms, it counteracts to a certain degree the negative affects of a high calorie diet. But there are no studies in humans that show this result, and the amount needed to obtain these results in these other species has not yet been seen to exist in humans, even after oral ingestion.
Simply lowering caloric intake via a properly balanced diet would ensure that you maximize your longevity and health without the need for this supplement.
Safety Concerns
There is no evidence of purely adverse or toxic effects in humans, but the number of clinical trials is limited.
Since resveratrol has been shown to have both positive and negative effects on estrogen action, the Linus Pauling Institute suggests that women with a history of estrogen-sensitive cancers such as ovarian, breast or uterine avoid taking supplements.
Due to its ability to limit human platelet formation in animal studies, it conceivably could increase bleeding risk when taken along with anticoagulant medication.
Adverse drug interactions are always a possibility when adding any supplement to your diet. It is best to consult your health care professional before beginning any supplement routine.
Return From Resveratrol to Aging Gracefully
