Laurent, and Pinot Noir. Resveratrol is most commonly consumed in a small amounts through foods such as grapes, berries, and wine. Supplements can be taken at any time of day. Pterostilbene is a polyphenol very similar to resveratrol. It contains a structural difference that allows more efficient metabolism by the body and it crosses cell membranes more easily.

Scientists think that pterostilbene may be more potent than resveratrol while offering the same health benefits, but more research needs to be done. Yang KR, Yu HC, Huang CY, et al. Bioprocessed production of resveratrol-enriched rice wine: Simultaneous rice wine fermentation, extraction, and transformation of piceid to resveratrol from Polygonum cuspidatum roots.

Published Jul Braidy N, Jugder BE, Poljak A, et al. Resveratrol as a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment and management of Alzheimer's disease. Curr Top Med Chem. Gambini J, Inglés M, Olaso G, et al. Properties of Resveratrol: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies about Metabolism, Bioavailability, and Biological Effects in Animal Models and Humans.

Oxid Med Cell Longev. Xia N, Förstermann U, Li H. Resveratrol and endothelial nitric oxide. Published Oct 9. Mendes KL, de Pinho L, Andrade JM, et al. Distinct metabolic effects of resveratrol on lipogenesis markers in mice adipose tissue treated with high-polyunsaturated fat and high-protein diets.

Life Sci. Wang J, Ho L, Zhao Z, et al. Moderate consumption of Cabernet Sauvignon attenuates Abeta neuropathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. FASEB J. Granzotto A, Zatta P. Resveratrol and Alzheimer's disease: message in a bottle on red wine and cognition.

Front Aging Neurosci. Published May Wang TT, Hudson TS, Wang TC, et al. Differential effects of resveratrol on androgen-responsive LNCaP human prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Zulueta A, Caretti A, Signorelli P, Ghidoni R. Resveratrol: A potential challenger against gastric cancer. World J Gastroenterol. Detampel P, Beck M, Krähenbühl S, Huwyler J. Drug interaction potential of resveratrol.

Drug Metab Rev. Bertelli AA, Giovannini L, Giannessi D, et al. Antiplatelet activity of synthetic and natural resveratrol in red wine. Int J Tissue React. Chow HH, Garland LL, Hsu CH, et al. Resveratrol modulates drug- and carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes in a healthy volunteer study. Cancer Prev Res Phila.

American Heart Association. Limiting alcohol to manage high blood pressure. Salehi B, Mishra AP, Nigam M, et al. Resveratrol: A double-edged sword in health benefits. Published Sep 9. McCormack D, McFadden D.

A review of pterostilbene antioxidant activity and disease modification. By Rebecca Jaspan, MPH, RD Rebecca Jaspan is a registered dietitian specializing in anorexia, binge eating disorder, and bulimia, as well as disordered eating and orthorexia.

Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. 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. Resveratrol supplements may benefit blood fats in animals. As an antioxidant, they may also decrease LDL cholesterol odixation. It works to achieve this in the same way as calorie restriction, which has shown promise in lengthening lifespans by changing how genes express themselves 18 , Resveratrol supplements have lengthened lifespan in animal studies.

Several studies have suggested that drinking red wine can help slow down age-related cognitive decline 21 , 22 , 23 , Additionally, the compound may set off a chain of events that protects brain cells from damage While this research is intriguing, scientists still have questions about how well the human body is able to make use of supplemental resveratrol, which limits its immediate use as a supplement to protect the brain 1 , 2.

A potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound, resveratrol shows promise in protecting brain cells from damage. These benefits include increasing insulin sensitivity and preventing complications from diabetes 26 , 27 , 28 , 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 30 , Here are a few more benefits resveratrol may have for people with diabetes 28 :.

Researchers say the compound could be used to treat diabetes and its complications in the future, but more research is needed. Resveratrol has helped mice develop better insulin sensitivity and fight complications of diabetes.

In the future, humans with diabetes might also benefit from resveratrol therapy. Arthritis is a common affliction that leads to joint pain and loss of mobility Plant-based supplements are being studied as a way to treat and prevent joint pain.

When taken as a supplement, resveratrol may help protect cartilage from deteriorating 33 , Cartilage breakdown can cause joint pain and is one of the main symptoms of arthritis 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 33 , 35 , 36 , Resveratrol has been studied, especially in test tubes, for its ability to prevent and treat cancer.

However, results have been mixed 30 , 38 , In animal and test-tube studies, it has been shown to fight several kinds of cancer cells, including gastric, colon, skin, breast and prostate 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , However, since the studies so far have been carried out in test tubes and animals, much more research is needed to see if and how this compound might be used for human cancer therapy.

No major risks have been revealed in studies that have used resveratrol supplements. Healthy people seem to tolerate them well And there are some cautions, especially regarding how resveratrol could interact with other medications.

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 If you currently use medications, then you may want to check with a doctor before trying resveratrol.

However, researchers are studying ways of making resveratrol easier for the body to use 6 , However, clear dosage guidance is still lacking. Other sources include deeply colored berries, real dark chocolate and cocoa.

Along with helping to keep arteries clear from plaque buildup and protecting an aging heart, this phytonutrient has many other health benefits, too — including reducing inflammation, potentially helping to prevent obesity and protecting cognitive health among the elderly.

Resveratrol is classified as a phytoestrogen because of its ability to interact with estrogen receptors in a positive way. Plants that produce resveratrol and other types of antioxidants actually do so partly as a protective mechanism and response to stressors within their environments, including radiation, the presence of insects or other predators, injury, and fungal infections.

Today, resveratrol is believed to be one of the most potent polyphenols and strongest protectors against symptoms associated with aging and free radical damage. Studies show that the most naturally abundant sources of resveratrol not to mention many other protective phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals are plants, including the skin of red grapes , red wine, raw cocoa , and dark berries, such as lingonberries , blueberries, mulberries and bilberries.

Red wine is probably the best known source, mostly due to its high levels thanks to the fermentation process that turns grape juice to alcohol. The benefits of resveratrol were first discovered when researchers found that yeast and other microbes, insects and animals fed resveratrol experienced an increased life span as a result.

Various studies continued to confirm its amazing anti-aging benefits, demonstrated in studies conducted on fruit flies, fish, mice and nematode worms, all of which lived longer compared to control groups that were not treated with this phytonutrient.

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals produced during everyday bodily functions, such as eating and exercise.

Free radical damage is accelerated due to poor lifestyle habits like smoking, eating an unhealthy diet, and in response to environmental pollution and toxicity. If left unchecked, free radicals can damage cells and are thought to be a cause of life-threatening diseases and earlier death.

Consuming plant foods high in antioxidants and phytonutrients has been shown to offer antioxidative, anticarcinogenic and antitumor benefits that protect adults from many age-related diseases. According to research published by the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Seville in Spain,.

One of the most striking biological activities of resveratrol soundly investigated during the late years has been its cancer-chemopreventive potential. In fact, recently it has been demonstrated that it blocks the multistep process of carcinogenesis at various stages: tumor initiation, promotion, and progression.

Consuming more has also been shown to help improve circulation and have beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism in some with higher risk for metabolic syndrome. Itadori tea, one significant source of resveratrol, has long been used in Asian countries, including Japan and China, as a traditional herbal remedy for preventing heart disease and strokes.

Resveratrol is particularly unique as its antioxidants can cross the blood-brain barrier to protect the brain and the nervous system, unlike other antioxidants. Studies done by researchers at the Nutrition Research Center at Northunbria University in the U.

showed that resveratrol noticeably increased blood flow to the brain, suggesting a considerable benefit to healthy brain function and neuroprotective effects. Other study findings, such as results published in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry , demonstrated that even a single infusion of resveratrol could elicit neuroprotective effects on cerebral brain neuronal loss and damage.

Findings from animal studies have found that resveratrol exerts beneficial effects on rodents fed a high-calorie diet, helping prevent fat storage and regulating insulin levels.

Resveratrol may be helpful for those with diabetes and prediabetes by reducing complications like nerve damage and damage to the heart and helping manage insulin levels. A study on resveratrol demonstrated that it mildly improved renal function in the general adult population.