Resveratrol & Arthritis

Arthritis means "inflamed joint" in Latin, although it is a medical category of joint disease that is divided into inflammatory and noninflammatory types. Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear and considered noninflammatory. Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is the most common inflammatory type, affecting more than 4 million Americans. Resveratrol is a natural compound that displays strong anti-inflammatory properties and has shown promise in reducing the symptoms of inflammatory types of arthritis, although consulting with a doctor before supplementing is always recommended.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease, which means that the body's immune system attacks the tissues of joint capsules for reasons unknown. RA is characterized by joint destruction, which produces severe inflammation, pain, disfigurement and dramatically reduced range of motion. RA is most common in peripheral joints, such as the hands, but also can occur in the spine, hips and knees. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly prescribed to combat the symptoms of RA, although some people prefer natural remedies with fewer side effects. Resveratrol is not a cure for arthritis, however.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is produced in many plants to discourage the growth of bacteria and fungi. Resveratrol became better known in the early 1990s when it was suggested by researchers that it might be responsible for the cardiovascular benefits of drinking red wine, as cited in "Contemporary Nutrition." Resveratrol is found primarily in the skin of grapes, especially red grapes. Red wine contains between 0.2 and 5.8 mg/l of resveratrol, depending on the grape variety and age of the wine. Resveratrol has been found to have strong antioxidant properties as well as being able to discourage cancer growth, and its anti-inflammatory ability is promising for the treatment of RA and similar types of arthritis.

Resveratrol and Arthritis

Activation of specific cells, called synovial cells, is a common feature in RA. Once activated, the cells grow, become destructive and trigger an immune response. A Turkish study published in a 2007 edition of "Inflammation" found that resveratrol is a specific inhibitor of the chemical that triggers synovial cells. Specifically, the researchers induced inflammatory arthritis in the knees of rabbits and then injected resveratrol, which reduced the inflammatory reaction and preserved the cartilage. A Korean study published in a 2008 edition of "Rheumatology" looked at resveratrol's effects on rheumatoid fibroblast-like cells taken from the joints of RA patients. The researchers found that resveratrol is involved in "apoptotic signaling" of the cells, which reduces cartilage damage and synovial lining inflammation in RA.

Safe Levels of Resveratrol

Resveratrol is not known to be toxic or cause adverse effects in people, but there have been only a few clinical trials to date. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, resveratrol doses of up to 5 g result in no serious adverse effects. Further, rats have been given up to 300 mg of resveratrol per kilogram of body weight with no apparent adverse effects. Resveratrol supplements might contain anywhere from 10 to 50 mg per capsule, but the effective doses for inflammation in humans are not known.