You may have been hearing about the supplement resveratrol a lot lately. Resveratrol is an antioxidant found in red wine, grape skins, cranberries, peanuts, and blueberries. It is also sold as a supplement. Many health and fitness websites, blogs, and magazines have been promoting resveratrol as a potential new weight lose supplement. Some researchers and “experts” are also saying this antioxidant can also help to improve energy and increase endurance. According to the Nutrition Business Journal, sales of this supplement are estimated to be around $30 million annually, which means people are buying into what experts are saying resveratrol can do. Are the claims too good to be true? Let’s take a look.
According to an article published in a Harvard Health publication by Harvard Medical School, scientists and researchers still don’t truly know how resveratrol affects humans. Most of the studies have been conducted on animals and microbes. In 2014, a study done by scientists at John Hopkins University School of Medicine analyzed information from 800 men and women ages 65 and older, who had diets rich in resveratrol. After measuring the amount of metabolized resveratrol that showed up in their urine, there was found to be no link between resveratrol levels and rates of heart disease, cancer, and death. Despite these results, there are still ongoing trials and researchers are keeping open minds about possible benefits.
On a daily basis, it is easy to consume a good amount of resveratrol from the foods listed above, along with pistachios, white wine, cocoa, and dark chocolate. These plants from which these foods come from produce resveratrol to fight fungal infection, ultraviolet radiation, stress and injury- which indicates it is an anti-oxidant. A resveratrol researcher and professor at Harvard Medical School wanted to see if this protective power could help more than just plants. In 2003, this researcher, Dr. David Sinclair, found that resveratrol could increase cell survival and slow aging in mice. Since then, it has been found that the antioxidant can prevent skin cancer, protect against high blood pressure, heart failure and heart disease, protect nerves and the brain and improve insulin sensitivity in rodents and other various lab animals. Dr. Sinclair, who has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential people for his anti-aging research, said a person would need to drink a hundred to a thousand glasses of red wine to equal the dose that improved the health in mice.
Is it worth the hype? In short, taking the resveratrol supplement is basically an experiment for you and your body, so you should discuss it with your doctor before trying it out. No one truly knows what an effective and safe dose for humans is yet, and how long-term use will affect humans (for better or worse).
When it comes to supplements, it’s better to approach them with caution. It is always better to get your vitamins and minerals from a well-balanced diet before relying on vitamins, supplements, and other pills. Dr. Kordonowy does routinely measure our skin stores of antioxidants using the Biophotonic Scan, see the first article in his October 2012 Newsletter. This machine uses light spectroscopy to quantify the presence of the various carotenoids in our skin which correlates with our dietary intake of vegetables and fruits.
If you’re having difficulty with your weight or feel like your diet is lacking certain nutrients, it’s best to talk to your doctor to review your diet and get a nutritional consult. To learn more about nutrition and to book a consult with a doctor, call Dr. Kordonowy at Internal Medicine, Lipids, and Wellness Practice of Fort Myers at 239-362-3005, Ext. 200 or click here.
