According to Drugs.com, resveratrol may be responsible for the decreased rates of heart disease in the French population as compared to other populations in similar industrialized countries. This observed effect is believed to be due to the moderate consumption of red wine, which contains resveratrol. However, no human studies confirm these purported therapeutic effects of resveratrol, and drinking too much wine can be harmful. Therefore, talk to your doctor before taking resveratrol medicinally.
Identification
Resveratrol is a substance found naturally in more than 70 plant types, including the skin of red grapes, the Japanese knotweed plant, peanuts and berries such as blueberries. Resveratrol is available as an extract, such as red wine, grape seed and Japanese knotweed extracts. It is also available in pill, powder, solution and transdermal patch forms. Red wine has more resveratrol than white wine, because it ferments longer with the grape skins.
Benefits
According to Drugs.com, resveratrol may have a variety of health benefits for the cardiovascular system, including lowering cholesterol and reducing certain effects of blood platelets that cause blood clotting and consequent heart attacks or stroke. It also beneficially impacts diabetes by lowering blood glucose. Resveratrol has anticancer effects and is associated with a lower occurrence of cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. Other benefits include increasing memory, enhancing skin health and decreasing arthritic joint problems.
Effectiveness
Although Wellness.com notes that no data from human studies confirm the purported beneficial effects of resveratrol for any health condition, laboratory and animal studies have shown that it may have certain beneficial effects such as antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial effects. Human trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of resveratrol.
Considerations
According to Drugs.com, resveratrol should be used cautiously and under the supervision of a health professional in the presence of blood disorders and conditions that are sensitive to estrogen. Resveratrol should be avoided within two weeks of surgery, during pregnancy or breast-feeding, adds Drugs.com, nor should it be given to children.
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