What is resveratrol?
Resveratrol is a compound in plants such as grapes, peanuts, and blueberries. It’s popularly known for its presence in red wine — which is also used as a possible explanation for the phenomenon called the “French Paradox”, which refers to the low incidence of cardiovascular disease among the French population despite their high intake of dietary fat. This low disease incidence was thought to be attributed to their intake of red wine.[3]
What are resveratrol’s main benefits?
Resveratrol is best known for its cardiovascular health benefits. In humans, resveratrol improves endothelial function[4][5] and may have a blood-pressure-lowering effect in some populations.[6][7][8] In vitro, resveratrol protects against atherosclerosis.[9][10][11]
In adults with type 2 diabetes, resveratrol improves fasting glucose, HbA1c, and insulin sensitivity but doesn’t appear to benefit adults without the disease.[7][12][13] Resveratrol consistently reduces the inflammatory cytokines C-reactive protein (CRP) and TNF-alpha.[14][15]
Despite the plausibility of resveratrol’s potential effects on blood lipids and body composition, resveratrol doesn’t appear to improve blood lipids in adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)[16][17][18] or body composition in adults with cardiometabolic conditions.[6]
What are resveratrol’s main drawbacks?
Resveratrol has poor bioavailability due to its rapid and extensive metabolism.[19][20]
Human studies suggest resveratrol can be supplemented at dosages up to 5,000 mg (5 grams) daily with few to no side effects outside of some intestinal upset and nausea.[1][2]
Resveratrol doses of 1,000 mg/day or more may interfere with the biological effects of commonly administered drugs by inhibiting cytochrome p450 isoenzymes. For example, resveratrol inhibits enzymes that play a role in the metabolism of statins, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants, antifungals, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), anticoagulants, beta-blockers, antidepressants, opioid analgesics, and antihistamines, among others.[21] If you take any medication, consult your doctor before supplementing with resveratrol, no matter the dose.
How does resveratrol work?
The cardioprotective effects of resveratrol are primarily due to its ability to protect cells against oxidative damage by scavenging free radicals and inhibiting their production. Resveratrol also increases antioxidant levels[22] and inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6).[23][24][25] Resveratrol also appears to have anti-fibrotic and anti-hypertrophic effects in the heart[26][27] and may improve mitochondrial biogenesis and function.[28][29]
Regarding its lipid-lowering and glucose-lowering effects, resveratrol activates the metabolic regulators AMPK and Sirt1, thereby improving lipid metabolism and fat accumulation in the liver[18] and increasing glucose uptake into skeletal muscle (i.e., improving insulin sensitivity) — explaining resveratrol’s potential to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes, and related conditions.
What are other names for Resveratrol
- Red Wine Extract
- 3 5 4'-trihydroxystilbene
- “The red wine molecule”
Frequently asked questions
Resveratrol is a compound in plants such as grapes, peanuts, and blueberries. It’s popularly known for its presence in red wine — which is also used as a possible explanation for the phenomenon called the “French Paradox”, which refers to the low incidence of cardiovascular disease among the French population despite their high intake of dietary fat. This low disease incidence was thought to be attributed to their intake of red wine.[3]
Resveratrol is best known for its cardiovascular health benefits. In humans, resveratrol improves endothelial function[4][5] and may have a blood-pressure-lowering effect in some populations.[6][7][8] In vitro, resveratrol protects against atherosclerosis.[9][10][11]
In adults with type 2 diabetes, resveratrol improves fasting glucose, HbA1c, and insulin sensitivity but doesn’t appear to benefit adults without the disease.[7][12][13] Resveratrol consistently reduces the inflammatory cytokines C-reactive protein (CRP) and TNF-alpha.[14][15]
Despite the plausibility of resveratrol’s potential effects on blood lipids and body composition, resveratrol doesn’t appear to improve blood lipids in adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)[16][17][18] or body composition in adults with cardiometabolic conditions.[6]
In humans, the answer is, unfortunately, “we don’t know.”
However, a meta-analysis of 19 studies on species including yeast, nematode worms, mice, fruit flies, and fish indicated that resveratrol reduced the risk of death. Specifically, the risk of death during the average lifespan was around 49%–60% lower for worms, yeast, and killifish who were treated with resveratrol — fruit flies and mice didn’t seem to obtain a lifespan benefit.[30]
The longevity-promoting effects of resveratrol are often attributed to its ability to induce cells to clear out their dysfunctional components and proteins — a process known as autophagy — and reduce oxidative stress.[31] Resveratrol also seems to prevent age-related declines in neurocognitive function and physical capacity, which may contribute to a lower incidence of aging-associated diseases and extend the healthy lifespan (also known as “healthspan”).
In rodents, resveratrol protects against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia, against the age-related decline in muscle mass and strength known as sarcopenia, and against cancers, infertility, and osteoporosis. Thus, although resveratrol seems promising for preventing diseases associated with aging in animals, its effects on healthspan and lifespan will need to be verified in randomized controlled studies of humans.[31]
Although moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with a lower risk of certain diseases, the safest amount of alcohol for most people is probably close to zero.
That being said, alcohol — particularly wine — may contain some healthy compounds, with resveratrol being the most widely known. Wine’s resveratrol content has been used to support observations such as the “French paradox” — the observation that the French have a lower cardiovascular mortality rate compared to other countries despite their high intake of saturated fats.[32]
Indeed, red wine comprises many phenolic compounds, including flavonoids (flavonols, flavones, and anthocyanidins) and non-flavonoid compounds (hydroxycinnamic acids, stilbenes such as resveratrol, and tannins),[33] all of which exert biological effects.
But what’s the link between wine consumption per se and various diseases? Some observational evidence has found that wine drinking is associated with protection from ischemic heart disease and cardiovascular complications in people who previously suffered a heart attack.[34][35] Moderate wine consumption has also been associated with reduced CVD mortality,[36][37] type 2 diabetes,[38] and all-cause mortality.
However, wine consumption is also associated with a higher socioeconomic status, healthier behaviors, and fewer risk factors for other illnesses — confounding factors that may explain part of the apparently beneficial effects of wine consumption.[39] In other words, wine drinkers may be healthier, but it might not be because of the wine.
Finally, the bioavailability of resveratrol from red wine is extremely low. Only trace amounts of free trans-resveratrol were observed in blood samples taken 30 minutes after drinking wine with or without a low-fat or high-fat meal. Rather, the resveratrol metabolites 3-glucuronide and 4′-glucuronide predominated, raising doubts about the bioavailability of resveratrol and its effects on health in humans.[40]
So, will drinking wine help you live longer? Probably not, but enjoying a glass or two with dinner doesn’t seem to be harmful to your health. Drink responsibly if you choose to do so.
Resveratrol has poor bioavailability due to its rapid and extensive metabolism.[19][20]
Human studies suggest resveratrol can be supplemented at dosages up to 5,000 mg (5 grams) daily with few to no side effects outside of some intestinal upset and nausea.[1][2]
Resveratrol doses of 1,000 mg/day or more may interfere with the biological effects of commonly administered drugs by inhibiting cytochrome p450 isoenzymes. For example, resveratrol inhibits enzymes that play a role in the metabolism of statins, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants, antifungals, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), anticoagulants, beta-blockers, antidepressants, opioid analgesics, and antihistamines, among others.[21] If you take any medication, consult your doctor before supplementing with resveratrol, no matter the dose.
The cardioprotective effects of resveratrol are primarily due to its ability to protect cells against oxidative damage by scavenging free radicals and inhibiting their production. Resveratrol also increases antioxidant levels[22] and inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6).[23][24][25] Resveratrol also appears to have anti-fibrotic and anti-hypertrophic effects in the heart[26][27] and may improve mitochondrial biogenesis and function.[28][29]
Regarding its lipid-lowering and glucose-lowering effects, resveratrol activates the metabolic regulators AMPK and Sirt1, thereby improving lipid metabolism and fat accumulation in the liver[18] and increasing glucose uptake into skeletal muscle (i.e., improving insulin sensitivity) — explaining resveratrol’s potential to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes, and related conditions.
Update History
Adjusted units in a FAQ
Reviewed by
Large FAQ and database update
Research written by
Edited by
Reviewed by
