You may have heard drinking a glass or two of wine per day is good for your heart. The reason for this is the nutrient resveratrol that is present in the wine. Resveratrol is found in grapes, wine, grape juice, blueberries, cranberries and peanuts. The amount of resveratrol in wine varies on how long the grape skins remain in contact with the wine during fermentation, so a great deal of variation exists among wines. Little evidence shows that resveratrol helps heart disease, but check with your doctor before adding anything to your diet.
Biological Actions
Resveratrol is an antioxidant, which means it fights off free radicals in the body. Free radicals are toxins that can cause disease and possibly some of the affects of aging. It can decrease the affects of some carcinogens, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, and it shows some anti-inflammatory affects as well. It also cuts down on the accumulation of platelets and plaque on the sides of artery walls in test tubes and in animal studies, which is why it is studied in the prevention of heart disease.
Side Effects
Relatively few studies isolated the efficacy of resveratrol, so not much is known about the side effects from it. It has a pseudo-estrogen effect, so those who have breast cancer or are at high risk for it should avoid resveratrol, according to New York University Langone Medical Center. No other adverse reactions are confirmed by research in the supplemental use of resveratrol, but you should take into consideration many connected interactions. Taking high amounts as a supplement could theoretically cause increased bleeding when taken with blood thinners, such as warfarin, but no human studies exist to support this hypothesis, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Supplemental use could also interact with drugs such as the statin drugs, calcium channel blockers, anti-arrhythmics, HIV drugs, immunosuppressants, antihistamines, benzodiazepines and erectile dysfunction drugs.
Heart Disease
The French Paradox led researchers to study resveratrol in connection with heart disease. The French eat a diet high in saturated fat, yet do not have high rates of heart disease. Many researchers point to the resveratrol in red wine as a possible reason for this discrepancy. In studies, it has shown promise in promoting artery dilation, discouraging platelet accumulation and inhibiting inflammation. However, this only happens at supplemental levels, not at levels normally consumed in the diet, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Currently, no convincing studies exist that state regular wine consumption is good for your heart.
Dosages
Since resveratrol is not a needed nutrient in the body, it does not have a recommended daily dosage. New York University Langone Medical Center recommends 500 mg daily. The Linus Pauling Institute states the amount of resveratrol for disease prevention is currently not known. If you wanted to get this nutrient from your diet, 5 oz. of red wine contains 0.30 to 1.07 mg of resveratrol while 1 cup of red grapes contain 0.24 to 1.25 mg.
Member Comments