What is Resveratrol? & its Side Effects

This post is just for information purposes. I am not recommending any medicines/supplements regarding this topic.

Resveratrol is being toted as a great anti-aging compound today.  Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and is a constituent of red wine, but apparently not in sufficient amounts to explain the French paradox.  It also found in berries and peanuts.  Experts say that it can delay aging and protect us from free radicals. It also protects the heart.

Resveratrol is now a substance that is being included in many wellness supplements in the market today. If you want to think about including Resveratrol in you daily wellness regime, it is wise and better to contact or consult an expert or doctor on this as you are aware of certain side effects of this products before taking it.  Moreover, the intensity of the side effect depends on the amount of Resveratrol in the supplement that you’re taking. Dosage and formulation are extremely important. This compound is known to interact with other medication.

What is Resveratrol?

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi. Resveratrol has also been produced by chemical synthesis and is sold as a nutritional supplement derived primarily from Japanese knotweed. In mouse and rat experiments, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-lowering and other beneficial cardiovascular effects of resveratrol have been reported. Most of these results have yet to be replicated in humans. In the only positive human trial, extremely high doses (3–5 g) of resveratrol in a proprietary formulation have been necessary to significantly lower blood sugar.

Adverse Side effects and unknowns

While the health benefits of Resveratrol seem promising, one study has theorized that it may stimulate the growth of human breast cancer cells, possibly because of resveratrol’s chemical structure, which is similar to a phytoestrogen. However, other studies have found that resveratrol actually fights breast cancer. Some studies suggest that resveratrol slows the development of blood vessels, which suppresses tumors, but also slows healing. Citing the evidence that resveratrol is estrogenic, some retailers of resveratrol advise that the compound may interfere with oral contraceptives and that women who are pregnant or intending to become pregnant should not use the product, while others advise that resveratrol should not be taken by children or young adults under eighteen, as no studies have shown how it affects their natural development. A small study found that a single dose of up to 5 g of trans-resveratrol caused no serious adverse effects in healthy volunteers.

Supplementation

Resveratrol nutritional supplements, first sourced from ground dried grape skins and seeds, are now primarily derived from the less expensive, more concentrated Japanese knot weed, which contains up to 187 mg/kg in the dried root and can be concentrated in an extract up to 50%. As a result of extensive news coverage, sales of supplements greatly increased in 2006, despite cautions that benefits to humans are unproven.

Source/Reference Links:

Wikipedia
WebForHealth
CBS News

Watch 60 Minutes Resveratrol VIDEO at the link provided.