Resveratrol is a natural substance found in red wine grapes, peanuts, blueberries, chocolate, certain pine trees, and Japanese knotweed. This potent antioxidant can promote heart health, decrease the risk of cancer, improve metabolism, and fight Type-II diabetes. Resveratrol naturally encourages genes to turn on factors that govern longevity. There is no known toxicity in humans, however more resveratrol studies are needed to explore the safety of this compound. Like any powerful supplement, there may be some side effects of resveratrol use for certain individuals.
Anti-platelet Effect
Resveratrol naturals exerts an anti-platelet effect, which decreases the clumping of blood platelets, which can lead to clotting. Blood clots can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Usually a heart-healthy benefit of resveratrol, this may adversely interact with anti-platelet drugs.
Bleeding
Increased risk of bleeding may occur with doses of resvertarol over 100 mg a day, according to the Life Extension Foundation. The natural blood-thinning effect of resveratrol may interact with the drugs Coumadin and Plavix.
Cytochrome Inhibition
Resveratrol may also interact with HIV protease inhibitors, immuno-suppressant drugs, anti-histamines, ED medications, calcium channel agonists, anti-arrhythmic agents, and/or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. These drug interactions may be caused by resveratrol's inhibition of cytochrome P450 and 3A4 enzymes, which may increase the bioavailability of these medications. A dose of 100 mg or more of resveratrol could down-regulate the liver's ability to process the drugs, causing adverse effects on the body.
Hypotension
Resveratrol has natural benefits for endothelial health, according to the Life Extension Foundation. Cells lining the blood vessels regulate certain factors for blood pressure. Resveratrol may influence these endothelial cells to decreased blood pressure, which is considered a heart healthy benefit. However, interaction with blood pressure medication could cause hypotension or low blood pressure, which can be just as dangerous as hypertension or high blood pressure.
Estrogen Agonist
Resveratrol may act as an estrogen agonist, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Certain compounds act upon the hormone estrogen, either inhibiting or enabling its action. Estrogen antagonists block the effects of estrogen, while estrogen agonists mimic or increase its effects. Resveratrol is structurally similar to synthetic estrogen agonists, and may aggravate certain cancers, such as prostate and breast tumors, which are dependent on estrogen for growth.
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