Resveratrol

 (Berkekey Wellness)
Many eminent scientists are interested in resveratrol, and some findings have been tantalizing. But is it really the “Holy Grail of aging research,” as a Harvard researcher described it?
Resveratrol is one of many naturally occurring plant chemicals called polyphenols. It is found in grapes, peanuts, mulberries, and blueberries, among other edible (and nonedible) plants. Red wine is rich in it; white wine has some, too. Many reports have called resveratrol the ingredient in wine that appears to protect drinkers from cardiovascular disease.
First isolated in 1940, resveratrol has been a subject of scientific study ever since. And, indeed, under a microscope, it appears to do nearly everything—for good or bad.
For example:
• In studies of yeasts and other small organisms, high doses of resveratrol have lengthened lifespan. Mice, too, live longer when given resveratrol. These findings gave rise to the anti-aging claims of supplement marketers.
• Resveratol sometimes behaves like a plant estrogen. As such, it may activate genes controlled by estrogen. This raises the possibility that it might promote certain cancers.
• On the other hand, resveratrol sometimes behaves like, an anti-estrogen, and this raises the possibility that it might help suppress those same cancers.
• Resveratrol is an antioxidant. Some researchers have proposed that it thus may help protect against cardiovascular disease, but this is far from proven.
• On the other hand, good studies have found that resveratrol, under some circumstances, can act like a pro-oxidant and can thus damage cells. It has been theorized that this property might be useful for treating cancer.
• Resveratrol can have anti-inflammatory and anti-prostaglandin effects. (Prostaglandins are chemicals involved in many bodily processes, including pain.) That is, resveratrol has something in common with aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Lab studies suggest that resveratrol has neuroprotective properties. If these could somehow be harnessed, they might help prevent some of the degenerative diseases of aging.
Resveratrol is being tested at many research institutions as a treatment for such disorders as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as for preventing cancer. One hope, apart from its possible preventive or life-extending uses, is that resveratrol will prove useful for treating heart disease and cancer.
Promising—but not yet ready for prime time
If you are considering taking resveratrol, keep in mind that there have been no good human studies. It appears to be safe, but its long-term effects are an open question. Any substance that seems to do almost everything and can play opposite chemical roles deserves careful study. Even if it proves beneficial, no one knows what an optimal dose is. Perhaps one day drug companies will be selling resveratrol, with some evidence of safety and effectiveness via human studies. But in the meantime, as a dietary supplement, resveratrol can continue to make many vague health claims with no proof.
Until more is known, get your resveratrol from your diet: grape juice, grapes, blueberries, peanuts. If you enjoy a glass of wine, that’s fine. It’s known that the alcohol has heart benefits; perhaps the resveratrol provides benefits, too.