Resveratrol – Hope or Hype?
Resveratrol has been creating quite the buzz for some time now. Some people have been raving about the amazing miracle properties of this powerful phytonutrient. That’s right! – Another phytonutrient to add to our series. We are beginning to wind down our series (only two more phytonutrients to introduce after resveratrol) Resveratrol is another antioxidant-rich healthy benefit you gain when eating a varied diet. Often it is nutrients working together that make them so valuable. So why do companies seem to want to separate them? Is resveratrol worth all the extra attention it has been getting?
What is Resveratrol Anyway?
Resveratrol is a phytonutrient that can be found in
- Red wine
- Purple grape juice
- Peanuts
- Mulberries
- Spruce
- Eucalyptus
- Japanese knotweed
There has been mention of this phytonutrient on shows such as Dr. Oz, which has helped to boost the sale of supplements that tout the ingredient prominently on their labels. In 2006, scientists briefly mentioned the possibility of a link between this phytonutrient and many other wonderful health benefits. It has been coming up again and again ever since. So far resveratrol studies have shown promising results such as:
- Inhibiting the growth of a variety of cancer cells in cultures (breast, prostate, stomach, colon, pancreatic, thyroid…)
- Increasing the lifespan of:
- Yeast
- Fruit Flies
- Fish
- Mice (with a high-calorie diet)
- Neutralizing free radicals
- Inhibits inflammation (only in some studies)
- “External application…resveratrol containing gel reduced the symptoms of acne,” (MSKCC)
Should You Believe?
When there are newly highlighted health benefits found in a single nutrient, you will find these specific nutrients quickly bottled and on your grocery store shelves. The media sensationalizes the new research without truly understanding all of the facts. Scientists are constantly publishing and republishing. Researchers have to test and retest their results and they publish these results as they go. Sometimes when a company is overly eager, or just very hopeful, they may only read the “good” parts of a study and forget that there may be key aspects that never become public information. From what I have read the positive attributes of resveratrol posted above are true to a point. But none of these results have been studied fully in human trials. And I certainly have not been able to find a study where resveratrol alone is showing the amazingly drastic results that the media and bottles are describing. I’m not saying that resveratrol isn’t good for you or that it isn’t helpful. In fact, it is still being studied because it is showing promise! It just isn’t the magical ingredient manufacturers want you to believe it is. The studies being done are with very high doses on laboratory animals, and those conditions cannot be achieved in an average home.
The Good News!
Enjoy your glass of red wine in moderation, if that is what you like. Of course never add anything medicinal to your diet without checking with your healthcare provider. Many added supplements, even organic homeopathies, could have negative affects when combined with certain medications. Some supplements can even cause you to be extra sensitive to things like sun exposure, or could even put you at risk for internal bleeding. Do your research and don’t let a blog post or pill bottle label be your doctor. Keep your plate colorful. It is the relationship of nutrients working together that give us the most health benefits.
Applications & Resources for Resveratrol
- Find more clinical information about resveratrol at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Go to the Linus Pauling Institute for research information on resveratrol
- Read more at NPR – it may not be the red wine but go ahead and have a glass anyway
- Check out the Mayo Clinic for even more information on heart healthy red wine and resveratrol
- Learn more by reading studies like: Resveratrol, obesity and diabetes by K. Szkudelska, et al., (2010) from the European Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical trials of resveratrol by K.R. Patel, et al. (2011) from the New York Academy of Science: Issue: Resveratrol and Health
