It is made from natural sources such as the skin of red grapes, Japanese knotweed, and other plants. Generally, resveratrol supplements can be taken daily, but it may take several weeks to months to see any noticeable effects.

The recommended daily dose of resveratrol can range from milligrams, depending on the product and individual health goals. Resveratrol supplements may interact with certain medications and medical conditions.

People with bleeding disorders, liver or kidney problems, hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, or those taking blood thinners, such as warfarin, should not take resveratrol supplements without consulting their healthcare provider first. Additionally, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid taking resveratrol supplements.

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Sort by: Featured. Arcwell No reviews. Natural Factors. New Roots. Filters Availability. View results. Buy high-quality resveratrol supplements at best price Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red grapes and other fruits, has been the subject of numerous scientific studies over the past decade.

What are the potential health benefits of Resveratrol supplements? However, at doses of 2. In a small study from , one participant developed fever and bicytopenia reduced blood cells while receiving 1.

High doses of resveratrol can inhibit enzyme activity that could increase the bioavailability and toxicity of certain drugs. There is also a relationship between resveratrol and transporter drugs, though scientists do not yet fully understand it.

Finally, research suggests that resveratrol may hinder human platelet aggregation. As a result, there is an increased risk of bleeding when people take resveratrol with anticoagulant drugs, antiplatelet drugs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The easiest way to consume resveratrol in safe amounts is via grapes, wine, blueberries, cranberries , pomegranates, and juices that contain these fruits.

Some people also take resveratrol supplements, especially for lowering blood pressure. Many of these supplements contain much higher doses of resveratrol than a person would naturally consume from food sources.

Clinical trials show that it is technically safe to take resveratrol in doses of up to 5 g per day , though taking more than 2. A review found that milligrams or more of resveratrol effectively lowered systolic blood pressure but had no significant effects on diastolic blood pressure.

More studies are necessary to determine a safe, effective dose for humans, as human trials have found many conflicting results. Overall, people have different tolerance levels for resveratrol, and there is no universally recommended dose. A person should talk with a healthcare professional about the dose that might be safest and most beneficial for their body.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound present in grapes, some berries, and other fruits and nuts. It often mimics antioxidant activity in the body and may provide many health benefits. Research most supports its use for cardiovascular protection and blood pressure regulation.

People may consume resveratrol through foods or supplements. There is no conclusive recommended dosage for resveratrol, but consuming large amounts may lead to gastrointestinal upset.

A doctor, dietitian, or other qualified health professional may be helpful in determining the appropriate amount of resveratrol for an individual.

People have cultivated grapes for 8, years. Grapes come in a range of colors and types, have been turned into jams and jellies, and made into wine…. Antioxidants are in many healthful foods. Experts believe that they help the body fight harmful free radicals that can lead to various health….

Blueberries are considered a superfood, and can help maintain healthy bones, reduce blood pressure, manage diabetes, and ward off heart disease. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can cause damage to cells and lead to illnesses and the aging process. Exactly what impact do they have on the….

This article identifies the 15 most healthful foods based on recent research. When consumers use resveratrol in a supplement, they can ease inflammation with the natural antioxidant support is offer. With a broad range of concentrations among the many supplements of the market, finding a good supplement is a matter of sifting through hundreds.

This guide eliminates the need to do so. Choosing the right resveratrol supplements can be hard, but the rankings in this guide make it incredibly simple.

After reviewing lab reports, manufacturer reviews, and customer recommendations, this guide narrowed down the top resveratrol supplements to check out. This guide also included a program called The Red Wine Diet, which is not a supplement, but it offers information on the best way to support heart health with an excellent source of resveratrol.

Read on below to learn about the different products that offer necessary and helpful resveratrol support. The formula is one of the many products on this list that was developed by healthcare professionals, focusing heavily on the positive impact it has on aging.

Made for both men and women, this formula contains 1, mg of resveratrol in every serving. Though results can be different from one user to the next, the best results are achieved with daily use for the first 30 days. The creators advertise their product as a way to improve confidence while supporting brain health, memory retention, joint health, and pain relief.

With each serving, users will need to take capsules before they go to sleep at night, allowing the support of resveratrol to work in their body while sleeping to soothe the effects of aging. Though users will get 25 mg of trans-resveratrol extract, the main reason it ranks so high is the complementary ingredients.

The highest concentrations are seen with green tea extract and taurine, which lead the formula with mg each, but there are also equal servings of barberry extract, cordyceps mushroom, and turmeric powder.

This formula contains a proprietary blend with ginger, sunflower oil, and Bioperine, but they will only amplify the support that the resveratrol offers. Users can order 1, 3, or 6 bottles in their purchase, and all of the packages come with free shipping.

Revitaa Pro is formulated to help consumers reduce the stress that they endure that would otherwise cause an abundance of stored fat. The big benefit to this formula is the support consumers get for weight loss, targeting issues like stress to reach that goal. Inside every veggie capsule, the only ingredient users will find is resveratrol, which is available in a mg dose.

Users can get a day supply to achieve the desired effects, though they have up to 60 days to get a refund from the creators. Even though weight loss is one of the main benefits that resveratrol offers, consumers might want to maintain a healthy diet with this formula to maintain the stress relief and heart health boost that it provides.

It capitalizes on the reduced oxidative stress that consumers sometimes experience with age, while simultaneously slowing down premature aging. Instead of exclusively offering resveratrol, this supplement is one of the many with supporting ingredients, which include NMN, Apigenin, green tea extract, and green coffee bean.

Their use of resveratrol primarily focuses on the anti-aging benefits, helping users to tackle the main concerns of aging, as stated by Reserveage. Those concerns include mental sharpness, heart health, and a strong defense against illness.

With a therapeutic dose of mg of resveratrol, consumers also get the support of Japanese knotweed, French whole red wine grapes, organic muscadine whole red grapes, and quercetin. While this formula uses resveratrol as part of the Pro-Longevity Factors proprietary blend, they disclose the full amount of resveratrol in their ingredient list.

ResveraCel, a product by Thorne Research, focuses on the way that resveratrol helps with the aging process, appeasing to Baby Boomers and Gen X. Users can try out this remedy to help with their slowing metabolism, though the creators also boast its benefits for blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.

Other supporting ingredients in ResveraCel include betaine anhydrous, nicotinamide riboside, and Quercetin Phytosome. Consumers can visit the website to take a quiz to determine if this is the right product for them. Consumers can also purchase this formula from Amazon.

Resveratrol Supreme, a product from Designs for Health, focuses on the overall benefits that resveratrol can offer, but there is special attention to the anti-aging benefits. This is the only product on the list that allows consumers to learn more about the ingredients and their benefits by offering a separate PDF file for Patient Education.

Users will only need one capsule a day to get results because the formula is so highly concentrated. The initial ingredient is trans-resveratrol, which is mg of the overall serving.

The other half of the remedy matches that concentration with quercetin. Raw Resveratrol, a Garden of Product, catches the attention of consumers with the claim that they offer as much resveratrol as users would be able to find in bottles of wine.

This formula focuses on the benefits that resveratrol offers for aging and heart health, but they also advertise digestive and cardiovascular health support. This formula uses a total of 23 powdered fruits and vegetables in their formula, though only a couple of ingredients give them the mg serving of resveratrol that they are included in this list for.

Resveratrol, a product by Toniq, locks in consumers with the promise of high potency and purity. Without any other ingredients to dilute it, only two capsules are needed to get the full mg serving, which is among the highest on this list. The creators at Toniq pride themselves on the third-party testing they provide for every formula, checking for heavy metals and ensuring the correct potency for the ingredients they list.

This particular blend is meant to help with detoxification, anti-aging support, longevity, and heart health. This formula acts as an excellent antioxidant, primarily settling around the benefits that resveratrol is well known for, like anti-aging, heart health, and better brain function.

It also promotes better immunity. The main ingredient in the Transmax formula is trans-resveratrol, giving users a mg serving in each capsule. Elixr is the second supplement from Toniiq on this list, showing the impressive product line available from the high-quality brand. This formula helps users promote healthy aging while giving the brain and heart a much-needed boost in performance.

This potent remedy offers equal amounts mg each of NMN, resveratrol, and trimethyglycine in every serving of three capsules. However, to get the results, users will need to take the serving up to twice daily. Optimized Resveratrol Elite from Life Extension aims to help users improve their whole-body wellness with 10 times the bioavailability than resveratrol ordinarily offers.

This remedy targets the health of the brain and heart, but it also protects users from oxidative stress on the cells. This remedy by Life Extension offers a proprietary blend that contains the resveratrol, which would ordinarily disqualify it from a guide like this since the concentration would be hidden.

However, in the spirit of full transparency, the creators disclose that Optimized Resveratrol Elite contains 40 mg of trans-resveratrol in the formula. Users will also get Bio-quercetin Phytosome. Resveratrol centers around two main proprietary blends to help with heart health, blood pressure, anti-aging, endurance, and other benefits.

Though resveratrol is already a worthy polyphenol, the added support is quite helpful to consumers who need to purge free radicals effectively. To pack a lot of punch into one supplement, this formula includes two blends — the Polyphenol Complex and the Trans-Resveratrol Complex.

In the Polyphenol Complex mg , users get green tea, grape seed, acai fruit, red wine extract, pomegranate, noni fruit, alfalfa leaf, and hawthorn berry.

However, in the Trans-Resveratrol Complex, users exclusively get trans-resveratrol, which almost matches the serving size of the other blend. Users will need two capsules a day to get the desired effect, though some people increase the amount to twice daily. Trans-Resveratrol by MAAC10 offers an incredibly high potency for this list at mg, though users also get the support of Bioperine to make the remedy more bioavailable.

It comes exclusively from natural plant extracts, helping with metabolic function, brain health, immunity, and more. BloodFlow-7 is a remedy by Juvenon, supporting the production of nitric oxide levels.

Nitric oxide is used to widen blood vessels to improve blood flow and reduce high blood pressure, which is part of what this product advertises. It also supports youthful energy levels while promoting better focus, skin health, blood pressure, and stamina.

Though trans-resveratrol is only found in a small concentration of 30 mg, users also get the support of citrulline, L-arginine HCI, Setria L-glutathione, beet root extract, green coffee bean extract, green tea, turmeric, tart cherry, blueberry, broccoli, and kale.

Plus, if they shop on the official website, the introductory page has a pop-up window that gives new customers a chance to get a discount or free shipping. Instead, this remedy naturally balances blood sugar levels with natural ingredients that all mutually work to this goal.

Read on below to learn about the factors considered in these rankings. Every supplement could contain no less than mg, but they do not exceed mg either. The formulas that had less resveratrol usually contained no more than 40 mg. The only way that consumers can see how well these supplements work is to know how much is in every formula, which is a big problem with proprietary blends.

While there are still some formulas on this list that include such blends, the formulas that ranked higher were completely transparent about how much resveratrol was included in their products. As potent as this guide preferred the supplements to be, pairing resveratrol with other ingredients is the easiest way to boost effects and get more support.

BioPerine, for example, improves how easily ingredients are absorbed, while pairing resveratrol with other antioxidants gave it a more concentrated effect. Products that are made to give users all of the support of a resveratrol remedy often advertise their claims to entice customers.

However, there are many bad actors in the supplement space that are only interested in their profits, rather than giving what they say they can. The benefits advertised for each product on this list had to be provable through scientific research.

No matter how much resveratrol a product has, the ability to balance what the product offers with how much it costs was crucial. Everyone appreciates a good deal, but not at the cost of losing potency or reliability. The last factor that was considered was the history of the manufacturer that the product came from.

Longevity and positive customer reviews speak volumes about what consumers can expect from a product, but newer products also could be ranked with good enough experiences from users. New companies that released their products were examined more closely as they are still proving how effective they can be.

When consumers take a resveratrol supplement, they are able to get health benefits that permeate through their entire body. Scientific research has helped companies and consumers to understand what this compound can provide, though there are a substantial number of clinical tests that base their results on animal testing.

Luckily, the last few years have provided the opportunity for these researchers to test on more human subjects to show how resveratrol impacts the brain, heart, blood flow, wrinkles, and more. A study showed that resveratrol has the ability to improve the lifespan of some organisms, though their research was primarily done on invertebrates with low longevity.

After testing on mice and fish, the researchers explained that supplementing with foods high in resveratrol early in adulthood helped to delay the deterioration caused by aging. Consumers will be pleased to see that blood pressure levels and overall cardiovascular system can get support from resveratrol.

After isolating the aortic smooth muscle cells of a rat, the researchers were able to use resveratrol to reduce protein oxidation, which was especially helpful to blood pressure levels while experiencing oxidative stress.

Considering that cardiovascular disease is the biggest cause of death in the world, consumers might be interested in using resveratrol to improve diastolic function and vascular function, which is what this study supported in mice.

However, further research is needed to have a clear connection with humans and lower blood pressure. That means that users can essentially reduce oxidative stress and support the widening of blood vessels. Other research also connects resveratrol use to lower cholesterol levels.

When it comes to brain health, the effects of resveratrol are well-documented and frequently cited by other studies. Consumers who struggle with diabetes or obesity might experience benefits while using resveratrol as well. As an antioxidant, one of the benefits that consumers can count on is its role as an anti-inflammatory agent.

In a study, researchers found that resveratrol greatly helps consumers with joint issues, protecting the joints from deterioration. The main reason that resveratrol was able to take on such a dramatic form of support is because of the reduced inflammation and protection from degradation.

Through the last two decades alone, the scientific community has continually researched the support that consumers can get from this polyphenol. Much of the previous research only used the information offered through animal studies, but the priority that human clinical studies have taken changes everything.

While trans-resveratrol makes this substance easier for consumers to absorb, look for supplements that also include black pepper extract, which increases bioavailability during digestion. With so many options on the market today, finding the best dosage of resveratrol can seem overwhelming.

Every supplement is different, but they can offer as little as 50 mg or as much as mg in every serving, according to WebMD. Generally, users should look for products that have at least mg per serving to make a difference, though some people think that just 10 mg could help.

While consumers might gravitate towards higher levels, that may not benefit them the most. For the most part, resveratrol is quite safe for consumers, but they have to follow the instructions of their chosen product.

It should never be used by anyone younger than 18 years old without the approval of a doctor. When users take the highest concentration possible, the most common side effect is blood clotting, as demonstrated in several studies cited by WebMD. Consumers who currently take blood-thinning medications or are at a heightened bleeding risk might want to avoid these products.

Though generally tolerated well, using too much resveratrol can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and liver dysfunction. Always follow the directions provided with the supplement to ensure that this risk is managed.

While consuming natural sources of resveratrol, the concentration is not potent enough to create any unwanted effects. Resveratrol is a type of polyphenol, which is a type of antioxidant that can eradicate free radicals.

Based on current research, this polyphenol can reduce the risk of cell damage that could lead to heart disease, cancer, and more.

It is found in peanuts, red wine, the skin of red grapes, berries, and some other foods. When sold in the United States, the majority of resveratrol is sourced from Polygonum cuspidatum, which is an Asian plant.

However, each brand listed above has its own sources. It can come from red grapes and their skins, some varieties of peanuts, and many types of berries. When consumers introduce resveratrol or any polyphenol to their body, they can reduce inflammation and promote better oxidation. As a result, the antioxidant support improves heart health as it helps with cholesterol levels and nitric oxide production.

It can also be used to promote weight loss, eliminate toxins, and more. Red wine is an excellent source of polyphenols. Though users should always drink in moderation, research shows that periodic consumption can provide the heart with enough polyphenols to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.

However, there is no correlation between drinking red wine and stopping heart attacks. While they acknowledge that there are many studies that praise resveratrol as an anti-cancer compound, the most significant impact is seen when it is combined with other types of treatment, like chemotherapy and targeted therapy.

Possibly, yes. One of the main benefits of using resveratrol is the stimulation for nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide is a known vasodilator, helping to relax the muscles within blood vessels and improve blood flow. It is possible. With this support, users can reduce their risk of blood clots as well, but the studies are still mixed on the intensity of this effect.

However, a study in shows that a combination of resveratrol with rifampicin an antibiotic for tuberculosis, meningitis, and other conditions can promote cognition as it eliminates oligomers a pathogen from the brain.

Further research is needed to link resveratrol to the support of these conditions. As insulin is better used by the body, less glucose is converted to stored fat, which means users reduce their risk of weight gain. Some of the age-related conditions impacted by resveratrol use include sarcopenia, cardiovascular disease, infertility, and osteoporosis.

Most people who want to experience a significant difference when they use this polyphenol will get it from a supplement, which often compresses it into a capsule or powder. The main benefits that consumers use resveratrol to get are weight loss, support for heart health, and cancer.

The strong antioxidant support has a positive effect on the appearance of aging skin and on the effect that aging has on the brain and organs.

In some situations, high doses of resveratrol boost the activity of estrogen, in others they block estrogen. That makes resveratrol supplements iffy for women with cancer of the breast, ovary, uterus, or other estrogen-sensitive tissue, those trying to become pregnant, or those taking an oral contraceptive.

Resveratrol makes platelets in the bloodstream less "sticky," and so could increase the risk of bleeding in people who take warfarin Coumadin , clopidogrel Plavix , aspirin, ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Another cloud: a company called Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, which was established to develop drugs from resveratrol, pulled the plug on the program in when a clinical trial showed that one of these drugs might be linked to kidney damage. If you believe that resveratrol will help you live longer and healthier, get it from food or wine, not by choking down resveratrol pills.

Eating red grapes, blueberries, and pistachios, or having a glass of your favorite red wine, are pleasurable ways to take in resveratrol. Plus you get all the other healthful plant products that come with the resveratrol. Getting it via supplement is dull, and you can't always trust what you are getting.

If you choose to take a supplement, shop carefully. It's worth keeping an eye on resveratrol research. But it's far too soon to be promoting it as a fountain of youth or wonder drug. Patrick J. Skerrett , Former Executive Editor, Harvard Health Publishing.

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Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Of the limited research in humans, most has focused on supplemental forms of the compound, in concentrations higher than those you could get through food 5.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant-like compound found in red wine, berries and peanuts. Much of the human research has used supplements that contain high levels of resveratrol. Because of its antioxidant properties, resveratrol could be a promising supplement for lowering blood pressure 9.

A review concluded that high doses may help reduce the pressure exerted on artery walls when the heart beats 3. That type of pressure is called systolic blood pressure, and appears as the upper number in blood pressure readings.

Systolic blood pressure typically goes up with age, as arteries stiffen. Resveratrol may accomplish this blood-pressure-lowering effect by helping to produce more nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to relax 10 , However, the authors of that study say more research is needed before specific recommendations can be made about the best dose of resveratrol to maximize blood pressure benefits.

Resveratrol supplements may help lower blood pressure by increasing the production of nitric oxide. Several studies in animals have suggested that resveratrol supplements may change blood fats in a healthy way 12 , A study fed mice a high-protein, high-polyunsaturated fat diet and also gave them resveratrol supplements.

Resveratrol seems to influence cholesterol levels by reducing the effect of an enzyme that controls cholesterol production LDL oxidation contributes to plaque buildup in artery walls 9 , 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. Resveratrol supplements may benefit blood fats in animals. As an antioxidant, they may also decrease LDL cholesterol odixation. It works to achieve this in the same way as calorie restriction, which has shown promise in lengthening lifespans by changing how genes express themselves 18 , Resveratrol supplements have lengthened lifespan in animal studies.

Several studies have suggested that drinking red wine can help slow down age-related cognitive decline 21 , 22 , 23 , 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 supplemental resveratrol, which limits its immediate use as a supplement to protect the brain 1 , 2.

A potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound, resveratrol shows promise in protecting brain cells from damage. These benefits include increasing insulin sensitivity and preventing complications from diabetes 26 , 27 , 28 , One explanation for how resveratrol works is that it may stop a certain enzyme from turning glucose into sorbitol, a sugar alcohol.

When too much sorbitol builds up in people with diabetes, it can create cell-damaging oxidative stress 30 , Here are a few more benefits resveratrol may have for people with diabetes 28 :. Researchers say the compound could be used to treat diabetes and its complications in the future, but more research is needed.

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

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 cartilage from deteriorating 33 , 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

Many people use resveratrol as a health-boosting supplement. Research has linked the compound to potential health benefits such as improved brain health and blood pressure. However, resveratrol may also come with some side effects. Resveratrol is a compound that belongs to a group of polyphenols called stilbenoids.

These compounds consist of two phenol rings connected by an ethylene bridge. Resveratrol is present in more than 70 plant species but primarily in the skin and seeds of red grapes.

It is also a phytoalexin, a protective antibiotic that plants produce when under stress. Phytoalexin helps plants recover from fungal attacks, ultraviolet radiation, and other threatening circumstances. When people consume reservatrol, it helps the body detoxify harmful molecules, much like antioxidants do.

The human body metabolizes the compound quickly. It is fat-soluble and has anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, and estrogenic activity. Resveratrol is one of the substances behind the health benefits of drinking red wine.

Learn more about the health benefits of red wine. Resveratrol has links to many possible health benefits, though they mostly have correlations to the compound rather than directly to the consumable supplement.

The benefits include:. Research shows that resveratrol plays a role in protecting ovary health and improving lung function. It notably improves glucose homeostasis, providing insulin resistance by activating sirtuin, which regulates metabolism in insulin-target organs.

In addition, resveratrol may serve as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis , as well as for male infertility and testicular malfunction.

More research is needed, as most of the above studies are animal studies. People use resveratrol for a number of other ailments, including stomachaches, hepatitis, urinary tract infections, and fungal diseases. While resveratrol has fewer potential side effects than potential benefits, some studies show that it may behave as a pro-oxidizing agent in the body.

This means that, rather than consistently work to slow or prevent cell damage that free radicals cause, resveratrol may exhibit pro-oxidant properties, leading to cellular DNA damage and oxidative stress.

Generally, if a person takes resveratrol in small amounts for a short time, they will not experience side effects. However, at doses of 2. In a small study from , one participant developed fever and bicytopenia reduced blood cells while receiving 1.

High doses of resveratrol can inhibit enzyme activity that could increase the bioavailability and toxicity of certain drugs. There is also a relationship between resveratrol and transporter drugs, though scientists do not yet fully understand it. Finally, research suggests that resveratrol may hinder human platelet aggregation.

As a result, there is an increased risk of bleeding when people take resveratrol with anticoagulant drugs, antiplatelet drugs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The easiest way to consume resveratrol in safe amounts is via grapes, wine, blueberries, cranberries , pomegranates, and juices that contain these fruits.

Some people also take resveratrol supplements, especially for lowering blood pressure. Many of these supplements contain much higher doses of resveratrol than a person would naturally consume from food sources.

Clinical trials show that it is technically safe to take resveratrol in doses of up to 5 g per day , though taking more than 2. A review found that milligrams or more of resveratrol effectively lowered systolic blood pressure but had no significant effects on diastolic blood pressure.

More studies are necessary to determine a safe, effective dose for humans, as human trials have found many conflicting results. Overall, people have different tolerance levels for resveratrol, and there is no universally recommended dose. A person should talk with a healthcare professional about the dose that might be safest and most beneficial for their body.

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound present in grapes, some berries, and other fruits and nuts.

It often mimics antioxidant activity in the body and may provide many health benefits. Research most supports its use for cardiovascular protection and blood pressure regulation.

People may consume resveratrol through foods or supplements. There is no conclusive recommended dosage for resveratrol, but consuming large amounts may lead to gastrointestinal upset.

Discrimination at work is linked to high blood pressure. Icy fingers and toes: Poor circulation or Raynaud's phenomenon? ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Oh, the giddy abandon that overtakes some headline writers when crowning a story about resveratrol, a chemical found in red wine. Here's a sampling of the latest:. All that for an article published today in the journal Cell suggesting that resveratrol blocks the action of a muscle enzyme called phosphodiesterase 4 in mice.

Don't get me wrong: it's interesting research, that could—emphasis on "could"—open the door someday to new treatments for heart disease, diabetes, memory loss, and other chronic conditions. But it doesn't merit the hype that comes with almost any new research on resveratrol.

Resveratrol is a compound that various plants make to fight off bacteria, fungi, and other microbial attackers, or to withstand drought or lack of nutrients. It has been found in red and purple grapes, blueberries, cranberries, mulberries, lingonberries, peanuts, and pistachios. Resveratrol is also abundant in the roots of Japanese knotweed, a plant that has become a hard-to-eradicate invader in the United States.

In , two Cornell University plant scientists suggested that resveratrol might be responsible for the cardiovascular benefits of red wine. Since then, hundreds of reports have indicated that resveratrol may—emphasis on "may"—protect against cancer, cardiovascular disease, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer's disease, and extend the life span.

Exactly how resveratrol might do all this is still a mystery. One possibility is that it turns on genes that make sirtuins, ancient proteins found in virtually all species. Activating sirtuins kicks off a response that fights disease and prolongs life. The Cell researchers were trying to figure out just how resveratrol might turn on sirtuin genes.

Virtually all of the positive studies on resveratrol have come from cultures of cells or laboratory experiments with yeast, roundworms, fruit flies, the short-lived turquoise killifish, or mice.

The few human studies have looked at specific intermediate markers, such as levels of antioxidants, heart rate variability, blood flow to the brain, and amounts of cancer proteins.

None have measured long-term health or survival. Another big unknown is side effects. Resveratrol acts on many different tissues in the body. It is chemically related to estrogen. In some situations, high doses of resveratrol boost the activity of estrogen, in others they block estrogen.

That makes resveratrol supplements iffy for women with cancer of the breast, ovary, uterus, or other estrogen-sensitive tissue, those trying to become pregnant, or those taking an oral contraceptive.

Resveratrol makes platelets in the bloodstream less "sticky," and so could increase the risk of bleeding in people who take warfarin Coumadin , clopidogrel Plavix , aspirin, ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Another cloud: a company called Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, which was established to develop drugs from resveratrol, pulled the plug on the program in when a clinical trial showed that one of these drugs might be linked to kidney damage.

If you believe that resveratrol will help you live longer and healthier, get it from food or wine, not by choking down resveratrol pills. Eating red grapes, blueberries, and pistachios, or having a glass of your favorite red wine, are pleasurable ways to take in resveratrol.

Plus you get all the other healthful plant products that come with the resveratrol. Getting it via supplement is dull, and you can't always trust what you are getting.

If you choose to take a supplement, shop carefully. It's worth keeping an eye on resveratrol research. But it's far too soon to be promoting it as a fountain of youth or wonder drug. Patrick J.