An antioxidant found in the skin of grapes, resveratrol may help promote heart health by lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol, preventing damage to blood vessels, and reducing risk of blood clotting and inflammation.
One of the richest sources of resveratrol is red wine, which is fermented with grape skins longer than white wine. Resveratrol is also sold as a dietary supplement.
The Benefits of Resveratrol
So far, most of the research on resveratrol's health effects has been carried out in tests on animals and laboratory cultures. While human-based research is lacking, the compound shows promise as a natural defense against several types of chronic disease.
Resveratrol and Cancer
In a 2008 study on cell cultures, resveratrol helped suppress breast-cancer progression in its earliest stages. The antioxidant appeared to stop estrogen from reacting with DNA molecules and forming compounds that mark the start of cancer cell formation.
Resveratrol and Heart Health
Resveratrol may help guard against age-related decline in heart health, according to a 2008 study on middle-aged mice. Researchers examined more than 1,000 genes in the heart, all of which change in function as we age. But in mice fed low doses of resveratrol, that age-related change was thwarted by 92%.
Given these findings, the study's authors suggest that regular intake of resveratrol may serve as "a robust intervention in the retardation of cardiac aging." Of course, it's important to remember that research done on animals does not confirm equal efficacy in humans.
Resveratrol and Age-Related Disorders
In a 2009 review of recent studies on red wine's health effects, researchers determined that -- in addition to helping protect against heart disease and cancer -- resveratrol may aid in the prevention of age-related disorders like inflammation and neurodegenerative disease. The review also indicated that resveratrol may help reduce risk of diabetes.
Red Wine for Better Health?
While research shows that drinking red wine may help shield against heart disease -- possibly due to resveratrol's heart-healthy effects -- it's important to note that consuming too much alcohol may raise your risk of high blood pressure, liver damage, obesity, and some forms of cancer.
Resveratrol Supplements
Although most drugstores and health food stores sell resveratrol in capsule form, few studies have explored the health benefits of taking resveratrol supplements. For now, increase your resveratrol intake by eating grapes, blueberries, cranberries, and pomegranate, all of which are rich in a range of antioxidants.
Sources:
Barger JL, Kayo T, Vann JM, Arias EB, Wang J, Hacker TA, Wang Y, Raederstorff D, Morrow JD, Leeuwenburgh C, Allison DB, Saupe KW, Cartee GD, Weindruch R, Prolla TA. "A low dose of dietary resveratrol partially mimics caloric restriction and retards aging parameters in mice." PLoS ONE 2008 4;3(6):e2264.
Brown L, Kroon PA, Das DK, Das S, Tosaki A, Chan V, Singer MV, Feick P. "The Biological Responses to Resveratrol and Other Polyphenols From Alcoholic Beverages." Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research 2009 10.
Lu F, Zahid M, Wang C, Saeed M, Cavalieri EL, Rogan EG. "Resveratrol prevents estrogen-DNA adduct formation and neoplastic transformation in MCF-10F cells." Cancer Prevention Research 2008 1(2):135-45.
