Introduction
Resveratrol belongs to a family of compounds known as polyphenols. They are thought to act like antioxidants and protect the body from damage that can increase the risk of cancer and heart disease. Found in red grape skins and in red wine, peanuts, berries, and other foods. Manufacturers are trying to harness that power by marketing Resveratrol supplements. Most Resveratrol capsules sold in the United States contain an extract from an Asian plant called Knotweed. Other Resveratrol supplements are manufactured from red wine or red grape extract. Promoting these nutritional supplements online promises everything from weight loss to a healthier, longer life.
What Are the Benefits of Resveratrol?
It is said to be effective in preventing aging and disease and is attracting much attention. Researchers have long believed that compounds in red wine may have health benefits. In the early 1990s, experts focused on Resveratrol, an antioxidant compound in red wine. Since then, several animal and laboratory studies have shown that Resveratrol has promising anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer effects.
It's important to note that while experts agree it's possible, there's not yet enough data to confirm its effectiveness. Resveratrol supplements have not been well studied in humans. We don't really know what benefits and risks they pose. I also don't know if Resveratrol is more important than other natural compounds in wine. Still, early research suggests that it can protect against the following conditions:
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Heart Disease - It may help reduce inflammation, lower (low-density lipoprotein) LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol, and make it harder for blood clots to form that can cause heart attacks.
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Cancer - It can limit the spread of cancer cells and start killing cancer cells.
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Alzheimer's Disease - It protects nerve cells from damage and fights disease-causing plaque build-up.
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Diabetes Mellitus - Resveratrol helps prevent insulin resistance when the body has reduced sensitivity to the blood sugar-lowering hormone insulin. This disease can lead to diabetes.
What Are the Effects of Resveratrol on Health?
The effects on the health of Resveratrol are listed below:
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Blood - Research has shown that Resveratrol's vasoprotective effects include reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, enhancing metabolic capacity, increasing nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by endothelial cells, inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, thus improving blood circulation, and promoting autophagy (consumption of body’s own tissue metabolically). It has been shown to be mediated through several mechanisms.
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Radical Scavenger and Antioxidant Action - Resveratrol has many biological properties, but its best-documented property is its ability to act as a powerful antioxidant. The antioxidant activity of Resveratrol depends on the arrangement of functional groups within the core structure. Therefore, the arrangement, substitution, and total number of hydroxyl groups significantly impact several mechanisms of antioxidant activity, such as free radical scavenging ability and metal ion chelating ability.
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Anticancer Effect - Research has shown that Resveratrol has anti-tumor effects and is a likely candidate for treating and preventing several types of cancer. The anticancer properties of Resveratrol have been confirmed by a great amount of research showing that Resveratrol can inhibit all stages of carcinogenesis (initiation, promotion, progression, etc.).
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Cardioprotective Effect - The protective effects of Resveratrol may be associated with cardiovascular function in diabetic rats by preserving the functional capacity of the cardiac stem/progenitor compartment and mature cardiac cells and improving the cardiac environment by reducing inflammatory conditions and reducing side effects. Ventricular remodeling in diabetic hearts significantly restores ventricular function.
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Neuroprotective Effect - Resveratrol has multiple neuroprotective functions against various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (a type of dementia), Huntington's disease (a condition where brain cells die), Parkinson's disease (inability to control voluntary movements), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (difficulty in making voluntary movements like chewing and walking due to breakdown of nerve cells in brain and spinal cord), alcohol-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Anti-Inflammatory Activity - Stilbenoids, including Resveratrol, are non-nitrogenous polyphenols with acidic and amphiphilic (attracting water) characteristics with anti-inflammatory activity. Research has reported the ability of Resveratrol to reduce the secretion and expression of inflammatory factors.
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Other Biological Activities - In addition to Resveratrol's cardioprotective, antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antidyslipidemic, and antidiabetic effects, it also exhibits antiproliferative and androgenic effects on ovarian membranous stromal cells. In addition, it exerts a cytostatic but less cytotoxic effect on granulosa cells and simultaneously inhibits aromatization and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression.
Can An Individual Take Resveratrol and Red Wine Together?
Some people wonder if we should be drinking more red wine because of Resveratrol's potential health benefits. However, most experts and groups, such as the American Heart Association, still recommend limiting alcoholic beverages to one glass per day for women and two for men. Other forms of alcohol do not contain Resveratrol.
What Are the Side-Effects of Resveratrol?
So far, studies have not found significant effects, even at high doses of Resveratrol. Resveratrol is generally considered safe when taken at levels naturally found in foods. It may cause reactions in people allergic to grapes and wine.
What Is the Reaction of Resveratrol With Other Medication?
People with medical conditions such as bleeding disorders should not take Resveratrol without consulting a doctor. If they take medications or other dietary supplements on a regular basis, they should talk to their doctor before starting Resveratrol supplements. They interact with medications such as blood thinners, blood pressure medications, cancer medications, antidepressants, antiviral and antifungal medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and dietary supplements such as St. John's wort, garlic, and ginkgo biloba. There is likely to be a reaction to all these drugs.
Conclusion
Resveratrol is an antioxidant that is found in red wine, berries, and peanuts. Many human studies have used supplements containing high levels of Resveratrol. It may help lower blood pressure by elevating the production of nitric oxide. Research has shown that it leads to improved blood circulation. While Resveratrol is considered safe for most people, it could interact with certain medications, and there’s not yet clear guidance on how to use it effectively.
