Several fruits, nuts and herbs synthesize resveratrol, a natural compound that might have anti-aging properties in humans. Scientific studies suggest that the compound protects against the negative effects of aging by fundamentally altering energy metabolism in the body and by mimicking the biological signaling that occurs in response to caloric restriction--the only other mechanism shown to date to increase longevity in mammals. Resveratrol comes in a few different forms. Food sources of it include red wine and mulberries. More concentrated nutraceutical extracts are also prepared from grape seeds or Japanese knotweed.
Food Sources
Resveratrol concentrates in the skin of red grapes and, consequently, within red wine during fermentation. According to Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, the total resveratrol content in wine ranges anywhere between 1.92 to 12.59 mg per liter, and can vary according to how the grapes are cultivated and whether they come under attack by fungi. Of note, wine has more types of resveratrol in it than raw grapes or grape juice because of the chemical processes resulting from fermentation. Beyond grapes, resveratrol occurs in peanuts, blueberries, bilberries and cranberries. The amount in peanuts depends on how the peanuts are prepared; boiled peanuts have higher resveratrol content than raw ones, which in turn, have higher content than processed peanut butter.
Mixed Grape Seed Resveratrol Extracts
Grape seeds, like skins, also contain large concentrations of resveratrol. In fact, they store a number of different antioxidant compounds that prevent genetic damage and cell death. Because of this repository of potentially therapeutic compounds, extracts from grape seeds are often prepared in semi-standardized liquid or solid capsule form for use as health supplements.
"Life Extension Magazine" cautions that though the amount of resveratrol in these preparations is theoretically fixed, the extracts can sometimes have larger amounts than advertised. Clinical work suggests that grape seed supplements, when taken daily for several months, might limit the amount of swelling that occurs after brain injury and can lower levels of so-called "bad" cholesterol.
Pure Resveratrol Supplements from Japanese Knotweed
Most pure resveratrol supplements derive from Japanese knotweed, a simple plant that shows year round growth in a large number of different climates and is cheap to cultivate relative to grapes. Resveratrol from this source, however, can contain oxalic acid, which aggravates rheumatoid arthritis and kidney stones. People with these pre-existing medical conditions should probably avoid purer forms of resveratrol prepared from Japanese knotweed and stick with fresh fruit or mixed grape seed extracts.
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