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By David Blyweiss, M.D.
Over the past few years, there’s been a lot of buzz about resveratrol. Oprah, Dr. Oz, Barbara Walters and other celebs have gone wild over this polyphenol found in red wine and grape skins.
So what’s the fuss about?
Resveratrol is one of the most amazing nutrients you can take to improve your health – and even prevent disease. Let me show you what I mean...
Resveratrol first made news when Harvard researchers found that it offered up the same benefits seen with caloric restriction. Caloric restriction has been repeatedly shown to extend lifespan in lab animals. Turns out that resveratrol affects many of the same genes that are affected by caloric restriction.1 But the news doesn’t stop there.
Another Harvard research team found that resveratrol improved the health and survival of obese mice. Resveratrol increased insulin levels while decreasing glucose levels. This meant that the mice given resveratrol had healthier livers and hearts than those that didn’t receive treatment.
These two findings would be enough to convince me that everyone should take this increasingly popular nutrient. But there’s more.
Other health benefits associated with resveratrol are just as impressive. A number of studies have shown resveratrol’s antioxidant properties prevent clogged arteries—a condition known as atherosclerosis. It does this by preventing cholesterol plaque from forming in the walls of the arteries and keeping blood cells from sticking together. It also relaxes the endothelium lining the arteries, allowing for efficient blood flow to and from the heart.2
Resveratrol also helps prevent a variety of cancers by selectively killing cancer cells. This effectively stops the cancer cells from spreading. But that’s not the only way resveratrol battles cancer. It also suppresses tumors by preventing the growth of blood vessels that feed them.3
Because of these actions, supplementing with resveratrol may help protect against advanced prostate cancer, as well as breast, colon, lung, skin, lymph node, brain, thyroid, pancreatic and ovarian cancers.
Need more convincing? Resveratrol shows promise as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Several recent studies suggest that resveratrol works on some of the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease. In a study published in 2009 by researchers from Cornell University, resveratrol was found to protect against beta-amyloid plaque formation. Researchers believe this formation to be one of the major causes of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.4
Resveratrol may also work on another front to protect overall health—by taming inflammation. Low-level inflammation has been linked to many chronic diseases including arthritis, heart disease and cancer. Pairing a resveratrol supplement with a whole foods diet is an effective prescription for getting rid of hidden inflammation.
If you decide that you want the benefits that come with daily resveratrol supplementation, you need to make sure you’re getting the correct form of resveratrol and the proper dosage. Resveratrol exists in two forms: cis-resveratrol and trans-resveratrol. While these two forms are similar, the bulk of scientific study has been on the “trans” variety. It appears to be somewhat more biologically active than its “cis” cousin. That means more of its benefit makes it into your cells where it does the most good.
Dosage is important, too. Look for a standardized supplement that provides at least 40 mg of trans-resveratrols in each serving. It’s the safe and effective way to toast good health!
References:
1. Baur JA. Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet. Nature. 2006;444:337-342.
2. Wang Z. Dealcoholized red wine containing known amounts of resveratrol suppresses atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits without affecting plasma lipid levels. International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 2005;16:533-540.
3. Delmas D. Resveratrol as a chemopreventive agent: a promising molecule for fighting cancer.Current Drug Targets. 2006 ;7:423-442.
4. Karuppagounder SS.Dietary supplementation with resveratrol reduces plaque pathology in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurochemistry International. 2009;54:111-118.
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