Resveratrol

Resveratrol (Polygonum cuspidatum) Root Extract – 200 mg

What is Resveratrol Root Extract?

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol that has been detected in more than 70 plant species, especially in grapes’ skin, seeds, berries and peanuts, and was found in discrete amounts in red wines and various human foods. 

What does it help with in the body? 

It is a phytoalexin that acts against pathogens, including bacteria and fungi. As a natural food ingredient, numerous studies have demonstrated that resveratrol possesses a very high antioxidant potential. Resveratrol also exhibit antitumor activity, and is considered a potential candidate for prevention and treatment of several types of cancer. Indeed, resveratrol anticancer properties have been confirmed by many in vitro and in vivo studies, which shows that resveratrol is able to inhibit all carcinogenesis stages (e.g., initiation, promotion and progression). Even more, other bioactive effects, namely as anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, cardioprotective, vasorelaxant, phytoestrogenic and neuroprotective have also been reported. 

What have the studies shown?

Resveratrol may help lower blood pressure secondary to its antioxidant properties. A 2015 review concluded that high doses may help reduce the pressure exerted on artery walls when the heart beats. 

This is what we call the systolic blood pressure, which is the number on top, usually the higher one, when looking at a blood pressure reading. Systolic blood pressure typically goes up with age, as arteries stiffen. When high, it’s a risk factor for heart disease. Resveratrol may accomplish this blood-pressure-lowering effect by helping to produce more nitric oxide, which causes blood vessels to relax.

Resveratrol has a positive effect on blood fats, as several studies in animals have suggested that resveratrol supplements may change blood fats in a healthy way. 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 4.5% and their oxidized LDL had gone down by 20% compared to participants who took an unenriched grape extract or a placebo.

Resveratrol has shown its ability to lengthen lifespan in certain animals, which has led to a large area of research focus for resveratrol. There’s evidence that resveratrol activates certain genes that ward off the diseases of aging. Resveratrol works to achieve this in the same way as calorie restriction, which has shown promise in lengthening lifespans by changing how genes express themselves.

A review of studies exploring this connection found that resveratrol increased lifespan in 60% of the organisms studied, but the effect was strongest in organisms that were less related to humans, such as worms and fish.

Resveratrol helps to protect the brain. Several studies have suggested that drinking red wine can help slow down age-related cognitive decline. This may partly be due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of resveratrol. It seems to interfere with protein fragments called beta-amyloids, which are crucial to forming the plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

Resveratrol may increase insulin sensitivity in the body. Resveratrol has been shown to have several benefits for diabetes, at least in animal studies. These benefits include increasing insulin sensitivity and preventing complications from diabetes. 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

Here are a few more benefits resveratrol may have for people with diabetes:

• May protect against oxidative stress: Its antioxidant action may help protect against oxidative stress, which causes some of the complications of diabetes.
• Helps decrease inflammation: Resveratrol is thought to lessen inflammation, a key contributor to chronic diseases, including diabetes.
• Activates AMPK: This is a protein that helps the body metabolize glucose. Activated AMPK helps keep blood sugar levels low.

Resveratrol may help with joint pain. One study injected resveratrol into the knee joints of rabbits with arthritis and found that these rabbits suffered less damage to their cartilage. Other research in test tubes and animals has suggested that the compound has potential to reduce inflammation and prevent damage to joints.

Resveratrol may help to suppress cancer cells. Resveratrol has been studied, especially in test tubes, for its ability to prevent and treat cancer. However, results have been mixed. In animal and test-tube studies, it has been shown to fight several kinds of cancer cells, including gastric, colon, skin, breast and prostate. 

Here’s how resveratrol may combat cancer cells:

• It may inhibit cancer cell growth: It may prevent cancer cells from replicating and spreading.
• Resveratrol may change gene expression: It can change the gene expression in cancer cells to inhibit their growth
• It can have hormonal effects: Resveratrol may interfere with the way certain hormones are expressed, which may keep hormone-dependent cancers from spreading

What is the safety profile of Resveratrol?

No major risks have been revealed in studies that have used resveratrol supplements. Healthy people seem to tolerate resveratrol well. 

However, since high doses have been shown to stop blood from clotting in test tubes, it’s possible it could increase bleeding or bruising when taken with anti-clotting drugs, such as heparin or warfarin, or some pain relievers.

Resveratrol also blocks some enzymes that help clear certain compounds from the body. That means some medications could build up to unsafe levels. These include certain blood pressure medications, anxiety meds and immunosuppressants.  

One of the most fascinating resveratrol aspects for its future development as a promising drug is that it does not appear to have debilitating or toxic side effects. 

Mukherjee et al.have suggested that lower resveratrol doses could be associated with health benefits, while higher doses devastate tumor cells via pro-apoptotic effects.

Resveratrol does not appear to have side effects at short-term doses (1.0 g). Otherwise, at doses of 2.5 g or more per day, side effects may occur, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and liver dysfunction in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Interestingly, no major side effects were stated in long-term clinical trials. In fact, resveratrol has been found to be safe and well-tolerated at up to 5 g/day, either as a single dose or as a fraction of multiple-day dosing schedule. However, it is imperative to mention that these studies were done in healthy populations, and these results may vary in sick patients. 

What are some contraindications?

The use of natural products is prevalent among patients who are taking conventional medicines, leading to a higher risk of natural product-drug interactions. Resveratrol may interact with several medications. It may lead to interactions with various cytochrome P450 (CYP), especially when taken at high doses. 

Presumably, high resveratrol intakes in the form of supplements could enhance both bruising and bleeding risk when taken with anticoagulant drugs, antiplatelet drugs and even non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Use caution if you are taking blood-thinning medications. 

Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/resveratrol 

For more information about Resveratrol:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6164842/

Compare to: Thorne – ResveraCel ($54)