Resveratrol is a colored polyphenol compound found in the skins of red grapes, including ones used to make wines. Resveratrol is thought to underlie the French Paradox where moderate wine consumption is found with improved health. Though results have not been demonstrated in humans, moderate consumption of red wine, grape juice or resveratrol supplements may improve aging, reduce excess estrogen and inhibit damage leading to cancer.
Antioxidant Benefits
Antioxidants are generally highly colored compounds that resist cellular damage associated with aging and cancer. Research in test tubes demonstrated that resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant. However, levels of resveratrol circulating in your body are much lower than other antioxidants such as vitamin C and E.
Estrogenic and Anti-Estrogenic Benefits
Although you may think of estrogen as being involved only in the female reproductive system, estrogen serves broad functions in both males and females. Resveratrol is similar in structure to an estrogen and has complex effects on estrogen in the body, suppressing signaling when estrogens are present and inhibiting signals when estrogens are not present. It may be that resveratrol helps stabilize estrogen signaling to normal levels.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Resveratrol inhibits the aggregation of platelets in the blood and can serve to reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood. According to the Mayo Clinic, these results suggest resveratrol may reduce inflammation and blood clots, although the studies in animals used the equivalent of 100 to 1,000 bottles of red wine. Dietary supplements containing enriched resveratrol is the only realistic way to add this much to your diet.
Dietary Intake
A recommended dose for positive effects in humans is not known due to the lack of clinical trials involving resveratrol. Dietary supplements of resveratrol contain between 10 and 50 mg and call for dosing twice a day.
Caution
Resveratrol may interfere with medications involved in blood clotting and other medications metabolized by the same enzyme. Check with your doctor to determine whether resveratrol supplementation is safe with your medication and health condition.
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