Resveratrol is a naturally-occurring substance found in a number of different plants, especially in certain kinds of red grapes. Resveratrol acts as a natural defense against bacteria that attacks the plants. Recently, studies have shown that resveratrol may have health benefits including helping the body to fight certain forms of cancer, including prostate cancer.
Programmed Cell Death
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, resveratrol may inhibit certain forms of cancers including prostate, breast, pancreatic and colon cancers. Studies have also shown that it slows the progression of the disease when taken after the onset of certain cancers. Resveratrol helps fight cancers through "programmed cell death." This means resveratrol causes the cancerous cells to die before they are able to replicate and spread the cancer. Programmed cell death is a natural way the body fights the disease, and resveratrol may support this process.
The Red Wine Connection
Red wine's health benefits may result from the resveratrol found in the skins of red grapes. However, another theory suggests that red wine's health benefits may actually rusult from another ingredient present in red grapes called proanthocyanidin. Whatever the cause of red wine's health benefits, studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic confirm that resveratrol has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant benefits to your body. The potential benefits of drinking red wine, however, include drinking it in moderation. Heavy alcohol use is never beneficial to your health.
Different Cancer, Different Results
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, with some cancers resveratrol may prevent the cancers from forming. With other cancers, resveratrol may not prevent but may help to slow the growth of the cancer. Still other cancers show no effect from resveratrol. For example, the study showed that reveratrol helped prevent the onset of breast cancer, but was ineffective in stopping or slowing that cancer once already present.
Direct Contact
The same studies concluded that, in order for resveratrol to have its beneficial effect in slowing the growth of cancer, it necessarily must come in direct contact with the tumor. Studies have attempted everything from injections into the blood to oral supplements. However, the only confirmed cancer fighting benefit from resveratrol occurred when implanting resveratrol directly into cancerous prostate cells. Therefore, adopting the habit of a daily glass of red wine may not have any beneficial effect on fighting prostate cancer
