Resveratrol has enjoyed media coverage in some of America's most-respected news organizations. Featured on CNN and in "The New York Times," resveratrol has been lauded as a "magic bullet" for a range of health concerns. Scientists hope that resveratrol supplements can slow down the aging process, improve insulin absorption and help people to lose weight.
Origins
For many years, the Mediterranean diet was a source of fascination for scientists. Despite favoring foods high in fats, such as cheeses, salamis, butter and fried food, the typical Mediterranean person traditionally has not suffered the same health complaints, particularly obesity, as other Westerners. Scientists suspected that the region's consumption of red wine might be the cause. The hypothesis proved to be true as resveratrol was isolated. Resveratrol comes from the skin of grapes, used to make wine and was found to decrease the development of cardiovascular disease and possibly weight loss in those who consumed it. Resveratrol is also found in peanuts, Japanese knotweed, blueberries, bilberries and cranberries.
Research
As of 2011, research for the use of resveratrol for weight loss is promising but has only been studied on mice. A study published in the journal "Cell" in 2006 found that mice, when supplemented with resveratrol had greater aerobic ability, decreased weight gain and better insulin resistance, which helps to control weight. These three effects could be beneficial to humans in the future but no long-term study has been done on the potential side effects of resveratrol.
Efficacy
Despite the promising initial research surrounding resveratrol, as of January 2011, resveratrol weight-loss supplements had not proven to be safe or effective. A clinical trial intended to study the efficacy of resveratrol for weight loss was submitted to the FDA on Jan. 13, 2009, but as of December 2010, the study was still ongoing.
Considerations
The Washington State Office of the Attorney General has warned consumers not to be swayed by promises of "free trials" of resveratrol found on the Internet. These companies, who required credit card details to get the "special offer," continue to charge once they have consumers' financial details. Do not fall prey to such scams.
References
- Harvard Medical School: Small Molecule Increases Lifespan and "Healthspan" of Obese Mice
- Huntington College of Health Sciences: Resveratrol -- What the Research Shows (PDF)
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center: Resveratrol (PDF)
- Cell: Resveratrol Improves Mitochondrial Function and Protects Against Metabolic Disease by Activating SIRT1 and PGC-1α
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Effect of Resvida, a Comparison With Calorie Restriction Regimen
- Washington State Office of the Attorney General: Consumers Juiced by Deceptive Açaí and Resveratrol Product Ads
Member Comments