Resveratrol supplements are a relatively new product. Resveratrol has been said to do all kinds of things ranging from anti-aging, cancer prevention, cancer treatment, anti-inflammatory pain relief, reducing heart disease risk, lowering blood sugar levels and even helping to prevent certain neurological diseases.
What Is Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a non-flavonoid polyphenol antioxidant produced in certain types of plants---probably most notably in the skin of red wine grapes and Japanese knotweed (which is typically harvested for commercial dietary supplements). It is produced as an antibody by these plants meant to fight various pathogens the plant may encounter. Resveratrol is found in two basic types, cis-Resveratrol and trans-Resveratrol; trans-Resveratrol is the active agent under research that has the purported health benefits.
Effects of Resveratrol
In animal studies Resveratrol has been shown to increase life span, and function as an anti-mutagen (preventing the mutation of cells and thereby preventing cancerous growths and tumors) and anti-inflammatory (giving pain relief). It has been linked to the prevention of coronary fat buildup in rats. As an anti-oxidant it binds to free-radical molecules, reducing the effects of aging on the body.
Research and Development
Resveratrol has been tested significantly on animals and insects---all reporting positive results. However, the vast majority of the many benefits of Resveratrol are still based upon the animal trials (particularly short-life-span animals such as mice), and the side effects of Resveratrol on humans are still largely unknown. This makes many of the purported benefits of Resveratrol still dubious, and unknown side effects a danger, as it is still in its very beginning stages of human testing.
Commercial Resveratrol Supplements
There are a number of factors to consider when looking at marketed Resveratrol supplements. For example, research shows that a low dosage of Resveratrol can be just as effective as a high one. Also, Resveratrol rapidly loses its beneficial properties when exposed to oxygen, so the manufacturing process is important. A good guide is to check the label: trans-Resveratrol is the unoxidized form, and cis-Resveratrol is the oxidized and largely neutralized form.
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