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We’ve been hearing a lot lately about resveratrol, the ingredient in red wine that is said to have major health benefits for conditions like heart disease, obesity, and even the effects of aging. It may even stave off certain cancers and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Some people claim to feel more energetic and have less sleep problems.
Recently, researchers have come up with another benefit to drinking red wine. The title says it all: “So long, sunscreen? Scientists suggest red wine helps prevent sunburn,” by Ryan Jaslow. No, you don’t rub on your skin, you drink it.
Does it sound too good to be true? According to the staff at Mayo Clinic, the ingredient, resveratrol, might be the key element in red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces "bad" cholesterol and prevents blood clots. Researchers claim that it may reduce the effects of obesity, which in turn reduces the chances of diabetes.
However, the research studies were only done on mice, not in people. Therefore, to get the same amount of resveratrol as in the mice studies, a person would have to drink around 60 liters of red wine a day. If you did that, you would be the healthiest wino on the block, right?
How do we get enough resveratrol without drinking ourselves to death? Grapes or grape juice, peanuts, blueberries, cranberries as well as numerous supplements are also said to contain resveratrol.
But, how much do we need?
LIVESTRONG.COM reported in an article: Resveratrol Recommended Dosage, by Henry Pitot, MD, that “For adults, the recommended dose for resveratrol supplementation is 40mg daily, according to Dr. Johan Auwerx, a resveratrol researcher at the Huntington College of Health Sciences. Preliminary studies reviewed by the Linus Pauling at Institute at Oregon State University have shown that trans-resveratrol is absorbed more efficiently by the body, but more studies are needed to evaluate the bioavailability of these interesting polyphenols in humans.”
The Mayo Clinic reported that while researchers haven’t found resveratrol supplements to be harmful, the actual resveratrol substance in the supplements are not absorbed by the body and, therefore, no use to us.
According to the University of Florida News, one trial is under way at their College of Medicine in the Institute on Aging. It is examining the effect resveratrol may have on physical and cognitive skills on older people.
In conclusion, it looks as if more research needs to done on humans vs. animals. In the meantime, why not do your own study by either drinking a glass of wine a day, eating a handful of grapes or peanuts, or taking a supplement and see if you feel more energetic or start sleeping better? You never know, in the long run, it may be worth it.
Warning:
According to the article on LIVESTRONG.com, “studies are not sure whether Resveratrol is safe for pregnant and nursing women and women with breast cancer. Resveratrol is a natural supplier of estrogen, therefore, should not be taken until further research is completed. Resveratrol may also decrease the therapeutic effects of anticoagulants, such as warfarin, and could increase the risk of bleeding.”
Sources:
So long, sunscreen? Scientists suggest red wine helps prevent sunburn
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20086913-10391704.html
Red wine and resveratrol: Good for your heart?
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089
Resveratrol Studies Confirms Potential Health Boost
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110621114155.htm
Resveratrol Recommended Dosage
http:
www.livestrong.com/article/443759-resveratrol-recommended-dosage
UF review of resveratrol studies confirms potential health boost
http://news.ufl.edu/2011/06/21/resveratrol-2
Reviewed August 10, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg R.N.
Edited by Jody Smith
Add a Comment10 Comments
Wow! Please keep us informed of the results from adding the Piperine with the resveratrol. I am very interested and I'm sure the readers are as well.
Thank you for this indepth report.
August 18, 2011 - 10:25amThis Comment
I wanted to see what the response was to my initial observations so here is some more anecdotal but extremely interesting stuff surrounding resveratrol. I know a guy who due to misadventures during his somewhat involuntary stay in Vietnam ended up with Hepatitis c. He also suffers from arthritus, had a liver transplant , diabetes, was seriously fat, and has diabetes. He is the only person of a group of 12 people who had liver tranplants when he did. So thats some backgound although he has made efforts to improve his health with positve results.
He started to take resveratrol. He started to loose a steady 4.5 lbs a month and his blood sugars were still elevated but stable. His doctor wanted to know what he was doing. But all he was doing was taking the same stuff that I do. Also there was a modest regrowth of hair on our balding heads.
Also a cheap substance called Piperin has been found to radicly improve the bioavalability of resveratrol which is short lived in the bloodstream.
Here is a synopsis of the study:Mol Nutr Food Res. 2011 Jun 29. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201100117. [Epub ahead of print]
Enhancing the bioavailability of resveratrol by combining it with piperine.
Johnson JJ, Nihal M, Siddiqui IA, Scarlett CO, Bailey HH, Mukhtar H, Ahmad N.
Source
Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Abstract
Scope: Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) is a phytoalexin shown to possess a multitude of health-promoting properties in pre-clinical studies. However, the poor in vivo bioavailability of resveratrol due to its rapid metabolism is being considered as a major obstacle in translating its effects in humans. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that piperine will enhance the pharmacokinetic parameters of resveratrol via inhibiting its glucuronidation, thereby slowing its elimination. Methods and results: Employing a standardized LC/MS assay, we determined the effect of piperine co-administration with resveratrol on serum levels resveratrol and resveratrol-3-O-β-D-glucuronide in C57BL mice. Mice were administered resveratrol (100 mg/kg; oral gavage) or resveratrol (100 mg/kg; oral gavage)+piperine (10 mg/kg; oral gavage), and the serum levels of resveratrol and resveratrol-3-O-β-D-glucuronide were analyzed at different times. We found that the degree of exposure (i.e. AUC) to resveratrol was enhanced to 229% and the maximum serum concentration (C(max) ) was increased to 1544% with the addition of piperine. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that piperine significantly improves the in vivo bioavailability of resveratrol. However, further detailed research is needed to study the mechanism of improved bioavailability of resveratrol via its combination with piperine as well as its effect on resveratrol metabolism.
I ordered some I am sure there are some less desirable aspects of piperin but I intend to follow it a bit further. I have ordered some from swansons.com for about 3.50 a bottle . If it turns out to be inappropriate then I will chuck them. I think I will take my picture once a day and see if there is any change that can be seen, besides the ungraceful effects of age and gravity. It will be interesting.
There are other things that I take which amazingly received the approval of my regular doctor (who is smarter than most). Things like fish oil, a baby aspirin a day and more. It should make sense on both a scientific and your own personal opinion of the results and how you feel when you stop taking the supplement. It's easy to be overenthusiastic
August 17, 2011 - 7:28pmThis Comment
Sorry about the lack of editing in the aforementioned reply.
August 17, 2011 - 7:31pmThis Comment
keep us posted on the blood results. Good luck.
August 17, 2011 - 3:03pmThis Comment
Good article. I've been taking 500mg. but will now increase the dose. I've been taking for about a year and notice a decreased appetite I'm getting a blood test soon and will be interested to see the results.
August 17, 2011 - 9:26amThis Comment
Thank you for the information. Keep up the good work! :>
August 11, 2011 - 4:15pmThis Comment
Wow, #2 commenter, what a statement! Are you taking the biotivia transmax? And apparently, your doctor is ok with you taking 2500 mg a day? Congratulations to you!!
After I wrote this article a gentleman friend of mine told me he was taking Transmax. I can't wait to tell him about this post. Thank you!
August 11, 2011 - 1:50pmThis Comment
No I am not taking the transmax product.I do not know anything about it so I cannot comment. I take an extract of japanese knotweed root which is the source for most capsules. This is what my Dr also takes. I put it in capsules. I did this originally because the price of resveratrol in 2006 was very high. My wife found it had a laxative effect on her so I bought 500mg capsules from a firm called Revgenetics which has been reliable.
Watch out for firms that offer the first month free then they charge your credit card 80 bucks for the next month before you have a chance to stop it. Its a scam.
A web site entitled longecity http://www.imminst.org is an interesting forum and has years of comments and a separate section on resveratrol in the forums area. You will find more info than you can stand!
August 11, 2011 - 2:58pmThis Comment
Well I have been taking a bit more than 40mg since 2006. Actually I take about 2500mg a day. I am a 58 year old male. My grey facial hair went to salt and pepper. (have the drivers licences to verify). I lost 14lbs in the first two weeks and then plateaued, my blood pressure went down, my cholesterol went down, fatty liver issues vanished. Yes I exercise too (rowing machine). According to my doctor I am in excellent shape, so I am not inclined to change what I am doing. Yeah I feel better , more energetic when take it but that is subjective. I am not saying what it might do for anyone else. Dr. Oz of Oprah fame suggests taking 500mg a day. My doctor and his wife both take it, after he saw what it did and his own research. I think it is worth looking into.Remember this is just one person's experience so make sure it is right for you before emulating my approach.
August 11, 2011 - 12:46pmThis Comment
Resveratrol is probably the most reserached supplement on the market today and 99% of the studies have shown that resveratrol has broad health benefits. Red wine does not have enough resveratrol to gain all of these benefits since 1 glass of wine only has 1mg of resveratrol. So quality supplements are your best bet.
August 11, 2011 - 8:35amMen's Health magazine suggests biotivia transmax. This supplement is Vegan certified and Consumer Lab approved for potency and safety.
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