Colon cancer occurs in the cells lining the colon. It occurs in both men and women at all ages; however, most colon cancer cases are diagnosed in people over age 50. A family history of this disease may raise your risk of getting colon cancer. Laboratory and animal studies have shown that resveratrol, an antioxidant compound in grapes and red wine, protects against colon cancer. But these preliminary findings are limited to animal studies only. The use of resveratrol is not without adverse effects. Before you decide to use resveratrol, be sure to consult your doctor.
Chemopreventive Effect
Researchers at the University of Southern California-Norris investigated the chemopreventive effect of resveratrol on colon cancer using various animal models. Resveratrol has been shown to weaken colon cancer cell lines, therefore increasing their susceptibility to existing chemotherapy treatments. It was found that resveratrol modulates cancer cell survival through apoptosis, reports Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, an Assistant Professor of Oncology at the University of Southern California-Norris.
Anticarcinogenic Property
Resveratrol's protective action against colon cancer arises from multiple anticarcinogenic properties, including free radical scavenging, cyclooxygenase inhibition, antiangiogenic and NF-kappa-B activation inhibition, according to Dean Brenner, PhD, a Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Michigan Medical School. In animal colon tumor models, resveratrol inhibited the inflammatory action of the cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme, which plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of colon cancer. However, this cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory effect of resveratrol may contribute directly to cardiovascular risk in humans, adds Dr. Brenner.
Precautions
In general, resveratrol is safe with no significant side effects. It is also nontoxic to humans. However, it is not clear whether the use of resveratrol in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers is safe. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, do not use resveratrol until more information is available. Resveratrol is known to interfere with the absorption of blood thinning medications. If you have bleeding disorders and you take an anticoagulant such as warfarin, do not take resveratrol without a doctor's recommendation.
Dosage and Safety
Dosage of approximately 500 mg per day is safe and potent, based on animal studies conducted by researchers at the New York University Langone Medical Center. However, the optimal dose of resveratrol in humans is unknown. Because it's a phytoestrogen, resveratrol can raise estrogen levels in women. High estrogen levels are an established predictor of breast cancer. Therefore, women who are at high risk for breast cancer should exercise caution when considering its use.
References
- New York University Langone Medical Center: Resveratrol
- Oregon State University: Linus Pauling Institute; Resveratrol; Jane Higdon; 2005
- University of Southern California: A Deadly Silence; Monika Guttman;
- University of Michigan Medical School: Description of Research; Dean Brenner
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: Colon Cancer; December 2010
