Health Benefits of Resveratrol Supplements

If you've heard that red wine can help lower cholesterol, chances are you've heard of resveratrol — the much-hyped plant compound found in red wine.But beyond being a healthful part of red wine and other foods, resveratrol has health-boosting potential in its own right.In fact, resveratrol supplements have been linked to many exciting health benefits, including protecting brain function and lowering blood pressure

What Is Resveratrol?

Resveratrol is a plant compound that acts like an antioxidant. The top food sources include red wine, grapes, some berries and peanuts .

This compound tends to be mostly concentrated in the skins and seeds of grapes and berries. These parts of the grape are included in the fermentation of red wine, hence its particularly high concentration of resveratrol .

However, much of the research on resveratrol has been done in animals and test tubes using high amounts of compound.

Of limited research in humans, most have focused on the supplemental form of the compound, in higher concentrations than those you could get through food.

SUMMARY:

Resveratrol is an antioxidant-like compound found in red wine, berries and peanuts. Much research has used supplements that contain high levels of resveratrol.

 

 

1. Resveratrol Supplements May Help Lower Blood Pressure

Because of its antioxidant properties, resveratrol could be a promising supplement for lowering blood pressure.

A 2015 review concluded that high doses may help reduce the pressure exerted on artery walls when the heart beats .

That type of pressure is called systolic blood pressure, and it appears as the upper number in blood pressure readings.

Systolic blood pressure usually goes up with age, as arteries stiffen. When high, it's a risk factor for heart disease.

Resveratrol may accomplish this blood-pressure-lowering effect by helping to produce more nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to relax .

However, the authors of the study say more research is needed before specific recommendations can be made about the best dose of resveratrol to maximize blood pressure benefits.

SUMMARY:

Resveratrol supplements may help lower blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide.

2. It Has a Positive Effect on Blood Fats

Several studies in animals have suggested that resveratrol supplements may change blood fats in a healthy way .

A 2016 study fed high protein, high-polyunsaturated fat diet and also gave them resveratrol supplements.

Researchers found the average total cholesterol level and body weight of the mice decreased, and their levels of "good"HDL cholesterol increased .

Resveratrol seems to affect cholesterol levels by reducing the effect of an enzyme that controls cholesterol production .

As an antioxidant, it also may decrease the oxidation of "bad" LDL cholesterol. LDL oxidation contributes to plaque buildup in artery walls .

In one study, participants were given grape extract that had been boosted with extra resveratrol.

After six months of treatment, their LDL had gone down by 4.5% and their oxidized LDL had gone down by 20% compared to the participants who took an unenriched grape extract or placebo .

SUMMARY:

Resveratrol supplements may benefit blood fats in animals. As an antioxidant, they may also decrease the LDL cholesterol odixation.

 

3. It Lengthens Lifespan in Certain Animals

The compound's ability to extend lifespan in different organisms has become a major area of research .

There's evidence that resveratrol activates certain genes that ward off the diseases of aging .

It works in the same way as calorie restriction, which has shown promise in lengthening lifespans by changing how the genes express themselves .

However, it's not clear if the compound would have a similar effect in humans.

A review of studies exploring this connection found that resveratrol increased lifespan in 60% of organisms studied, but the effect was strongest in organisms that were less related to humans, such as worms and fish .

SUMMARY:

Resveratrol supplements have lengthened lifespan in animal studies. However, it's not clear if they would have a similar effect in humans.

 

4. It Protects the Brain

Several studies have suggested that drinking red wine can help slow down age-related cognitive decline .

This is partly due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of resveratrol.

It seems to interfere with protein fragments called beta-amyloids, which are crucial to the formation of plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

Additionally, the compound may set off a chain of events that protects brain cells from damage .

While this research is intriguing, scientists still have questions about how well the human body is able to make use of a supplemental resveratrol, which limits its immediate use as a supplement to protect the brain .

SUMMARY:

A potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound, resveratrol shows promise in protecting brain cells from damage.

5. It May Increase Insulin Sensitivity

Resveratrol has been shown to have several benefits for diabetes, at least in animal studies.

These benefits include increased insulin sensitivity and prevent complications from diabetes .

One explanation for how resveratrol works is that it may stop some enzymes from turning glucose into sorbitol, and sugar alcohol.

When too much sorbitol builds up in people with diabetes, it can create cell-damaging oxidative stress .

Here are some more benefits resveratrol may have for people with diabetes :

• May protect against oxidative stress:  Its antioxidant action may help protect against oxidative stress, which causes some complications of diabetes.
• Helps decrease inflammation:  Resveratrol is thought to lessen inflammation, a key contributor to chronic diseases, including diabetes.
• Activates AMPK:  This is a protein that helps the body metabolize glucose. Activated AMPK helps keep blood sugar levels low.

Resveratrol may even provide more benefits for people with diabetes than those who do not have it. In one animal study, red wine and resveratrol were actually more effective antioxidants in rats with diabetes than in rats who did not have it .

Researchers say the compound could be used to treat diabetes and its complications in the future, but more research is needed.

SUMMARY:

Resveratrol has helped mice develop better insulin sensitivity and fight complications of diabetes. In the future, people with diabetes might also benefit from resveratrol therapy.

 

6. It May Ease Joint Pain

Arthritis is a common affliction that leads to joint pain and loss of mobility .

Plant-based supplements are being studied as a way to treat and prevent joint pain. When taken as a supplement, resveratrol may help protect the cartilage from deteriorating .

Cartilage breakdown can cause joint pain and is one of the main symptoms of arthritis .

One study injected resveratrol into the knee joints of rabbits with arthritis and found that these rabbits suffered less damage to their cartilage .

Other research in test tubes and animals has suggested that the compound has the potential to reduce inflammation and prevent damage to joints .

SUMMARY:

Resveratrol may help relieve joint pain by preventing cartilage from breaking down.

Resveratrol May Suppress Cancer Cells

Resveratrol has been studied, especially in test tubes, for its ability to prevent and treat cancer. However, results have been mixed .

In animal and test-tube studies, it has been shown to fight several types of cancer cells, including gastric, colon, skin, breast and prostate .

Here's how resveratrol may fight cancer cells:

• It may inhibit cancer cell growth:  It may prevent cancer cells from replicating and spreading .
• Resveratrol may change gene expression:  It can change the gene expression in cancer cells to inhibit their growth.
• It can have hormonal effects:  Resveratrol may interfere with the way certain hormones are expressed, which may keep hormone-dependent cancers from spreading .

However, since the studies so far have been carried out in test tubes and animals, much more research is needed to see if and how this compound might be used for human cancer therapy.

SUMMARY:

Resveratrol has demonstrated a superior cancer-blocking activity in test tubes and animal studies.

Risks and Concerns Regarding Resveratrol Supplements

No major risks have been reported in studies that have used resveratrol supplements. Healthy people seem to tolerate them well .

However, it should be noted that there are not enough conclusive recommendations about how much resveratrol a person should take in order to get health benefits.

And there are some cautions, especially regarding how resveratrol could interact with other medications.

Since high doses have been shown to stop blood from clotting in test tubes, it is possible to increase bleeding or bruising when taken with anti-clotting drugs, such as heparin or warfarin, or some pain relievers .

Resveratrol also blocks some enzymes that help clear some compounds from the body. Có ngh?a m?t s? th? t? có th? xay d?ng ?? unsafe levels. These include certain blood pressure medications, anxiety meds and immunosuppressants .

If you are currently taking medications, then you may want to check with a doctor before trying resveratrol.

Lastly, it's widely debated how much resveratrol the body can actually use from supplements and other sources .

However, researchers are studying ways of making resveratrol easier for the body to use .

SUMMARY:

While resveratrol supplements are likely to be safe for most people, they could interact with certain medications and there is still a clear guidance on how to use them effectively.