Resveratrol occurs in a number of healthy foods and herbs, including red grapes, peanuts, blueberries, bilberries, cranberries and Japanese knotweed. Due to its life-prolonging effects in a variety of laboratory animals, the natural compound has received intense scientific and public attention over the years. At first glance, resveratrol appears to be the ideal supplement: It possesses general anti-cancer properties and protects against heart disease. However, supplementation with resveratrol might pose a number of significant drawbacks.
Promotion of Hormone-Sensitive Cancers
Resveratrol confers protection against tumor development in general via several proposed biological mechanisms. Nevertheless, the compound bears structural similarities to at least one synthetic estrogen drug, and activates receptors associated with both estrogen and testosterone. Since breast, ovarian and uterine cancers in women and prostate cancer in men can be influenced by hormones, under specific circumstances resveratrol might inadvertently promote cancer progression.
Interference with Prescription Drug Metabolism
Resveratrol inhibits an important liver enzyme necessary for breaking down a long list of prescription medications, including drugs used to treat high cholesterol and heart disease (i.e., statins), drugs used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (i.e., protease inhibitors), those used to treat organ transplant patients (i.e., immunosuppressants) and those commonly used to treat anxiety (i.e., benzodiazepines). As such, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, resveratrol supplementation might artificially increase prescription drug bioavailability and toxicity.
Risk of Excess Bleeding
Resveratrol impairs blood coagulation, making it a valuable candidate for addressing fat and cholesterol buildup in the arteries of people suffering from heart disease, but posing a bleeding risk for people already on anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs such as Plavix. According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center, people on Plavix-like drugs should not take resveratrol supplements.
Non-Ideal Formulations
Resveratrol does not currently exist as a pharmaceutical-grade drug, but remains available via non-standardized herbal supplements. Most of these supplements contain extracts of the root kojo-kon and thus show varying degrees of impurity. Of note, pharmacological interactions between resveratrol and kojo-kon have not been formally studied. The amounts of resveratrol in the supplements also can fluctuate. Given these uncertainties, some physicians might advise against using resveratrol.
Long-Term Unintended Consequences
The long-term effects of resveratrol in humans are not known and might have unintended consequences. Because of this, physicians recommend avoiding any significant exposure to the compound during pregnancy.
Member Comments