Resveratrol In Alcoholic Beverages

Red wine contains a stilbenoid compound called resveratrol. Resveratrol has several purported health benefits including cancer prevention, coronary heart disease prevention and life extension. Scientific studies available as of 2011, however, do not confirm the health benefits of resveratrol in humans. Additionally, according to the Mayo Clinic, the amount of resveratrol present in red wine most likely does not have health benefits.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a type of poplyphenolic compound called stilbenes present in plants. Plants produce resveratrol under stress of injury, fungal infections and ultraviolet radiation. Currently available resveratrol studies show the effects of the compound in animals but not humans. According to the Mayo Clinic, it would take 60 liters of red of wine to equal the dosage given to mice in the currently available resveratrol studies. Therefore, regardless of the purported health benefits of resveratrol, red wine is not a good source of resveratrol.

Source of Resveratrol

Dietary sources of resveratrol include grapes, red wine, peanuts, some types of berries and purple grape juice. You can also consume resveratrol in supplement form. Manufacturers typically make these supplements from red wine and red grape extracts. Another source or resveratrol comes from the extracts of the root polygonum cuspidatum, also know as Hu Zhang or Kojo-kon. Resveratrol supplements typically contain 10 to 50mg of resveratrol. As of 2011, the Food and Drug Administration has not issued a recommended guideline for resveratrol intake. Also, your body rapidly metabolizes and eliminates resveratrol.

Cancer and Life Extension

According to an article published in the November 2007 "Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology," although several studies appear to show the cancer prevention benefits of resveratrol in animals, these studies do not confirm that resveratrol has cancer prevention benefits in humans. In the August 2004 issue of "Nature," a study showed that resveratrol increased the life span of fruit flies on a high calorie diet. However, no clinical evidence supports the use of resveratrol for life extension in humans.

Safety

According to the "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine," currently available studies do not show that resveratrol has any toxic effects or adverse reactions in humans. Very few studies, however, have taken place that directly study resveratrol's effects in humans. Therefore, the long-term effects of this drug in humans is not known. Should you experience any adverse reactions to resveratrol, immediately discontinue use and seek medical attention.