Resveratrol Supplement studies - health benefit of resveratrol pill - red wine resveratrol content
Will taking a resveratrol supplement help you live longer?


Resveratrol was initially isolated in 1940 as a constituent of the roots of the herb white hellebore (Veratrum grandiflorum O. Loes), but has since been found in various plants, including grapes, berries and peanuts. What made resveratrol quite popular was a November 2006 study that reported mice lived longer when given a resveratrol supplement. More about this resveratrol study later.
   Because grape skins are not fermented in the production process of white wine, only red wine contains considerable amounts of resveratrol. Pinot Noir wine the highest resveratrol content of any wine on the market. Below you will find a number of resveratrol studies.

Buy Resveratrol supplement 10 mg capsule, Club Natural, Developed by Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Resveratrol ( trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene ) is a protective compound produced by grapes and other plants in response to environmental stresses. Studies have demonstrated that resveratrol has potent antioxidant activity and also has the ability to inhibit platelet aggregation. These actions may help prevent free radical damage throughout the body and provide protective support to the cardiovascular system. Red wine has about 1.5 to 3 milligrams of resveratrol per liter (a liter is almost 34 ounces).

Resveratrol supplement 10 mg capsule (from 40 mg of a 25% extract of Polygonum Cuspidatum Root).
For the certificate of analysis of this resveratrol product, click the link below in blue. This bottle has 60 resveratrol capsules.


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Question
on resveratrol benefit for anti-aging
Q. I would like to know your opinion on resveratrol for longevity or anti-aging before I buy a resveratrol supplement. What do resveratrol studies tell us?
   A.
Will taking a resveratrol supplement help you live longer? Until at least a 5 to 10 year long human resveratrol study is completed, we won't know for sure. What is the appropriate resveratrol dosage when used for prolonged periods? Is it possible that high dosages could cause side effects and decrease longevity? How would a resveratrol supplement interact with medicines or other supplements? It is best to be patient and wait for more resveratrol supplement research information in humans before taking this pill every day in high dosages. In the meantime, taking a resveratrol supplement 2 or 3 times a week seems reasonable.

Where is resveratrol found? Red wine resveratrol
As red wine is a rich source of resveratrol, many sources will reference resveratrol as "red wine polyphenols," "red-wine extract," etc. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of misinformation about resveratrol, so you need to keep the following in mind when reviewing articles and marketing information about related products. As resveratrol is found in the skins of grapes, red wine will provide several times more resveratrol than white wine. Grape skins are not used in the production of white wine. As resveratrol is produced within the grape skin in response to attack by specific molds, grapes and wine produced in moist, northern climates (where these fungi are more prevalent) yield more resveratrol. As resveratrol is vulnerable to fairly rapid destruction by light and oxygen, the fact that wine is stored in air-tight, cool conditions away from sun light protects the resveratrol content. Only immediately after a bottle of wine is opened is the maximum resveratrol potency available. Since making wine also involves the potential damage from alcohol and preservatives, many people prefer a dietary supplement source for resveratrol.
   Much of the resveratrol sold in supplement form is from the herb
Polygonum cuspidatum which is available in various extract potencies, ranging from 5 percent resveratrol to 90 percent resveratrol.

Resveratrol supplement health benefit
If you haven't already heard about resveratrol (pronounced rez-VER-a-trawl), you will shortly. Resveratrol has been in the news a great deal. Research studies continue to find more interesting benefits from this red wine compound, including potential anti-cancer and anti-aging activity. It is not surprising that extensive research from all over the globe indicates that resveratrol has a wide range of beneficial properties. Below we discuss several resveratrol studies that review the benefit of this antioxidant compound for Alzheimer's disease, anti-aging, cancer, heart disease, and vision protection.

Study - Resveratrol and Alzheimer's disease
Red wine ingredient resveratrol protects from beta-amyloid neurotoxicity.
Gerontology. 2003 Nov-Dec;49(6):380-3. Psychiatric Clinic, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
beta-Amyloid peptide (Abeta), a neutrotoxic substance, has been implicated to a great degree in cell death during the course of Alzheimer's disease. Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol mainly found in red wine, has been shown to be cardioprotective and chemoprotective. Since a moderate wine intake correlates with a lower risk for Alzheimer disease, an additional neuroprotective effect has been postulated for resveratrol. The present study aimed at elucidating the possible neuroprotective effects of resveratrol against Abeta-induced neurotoxicity. The neuroprotective capacity against Abeta-related oxidative stress was studied in a cell culture model suitable for studying such potentially neuroprotective substances. Resveratrol maintains cell viability and exerts an anti-oxidative action by enhancing the intracellular free-radical scavenger glutathione. Our findings suggest that red wine may be neuroprotective through the actions of resveratrol.

       
Do resveratrol supplements have anti-aging benefit?
As to its antiaging potential, resveratrol activates a cell's survival defense enzyme, which prolongs the time cells have to repair their broken DNA. Resveratrol acts on fruit flies and worms in the same way as a method known to extend the life of animals including monkeys -- sharply restricting how much they eat. Resveratrol has been found to help mice live longer. Whether resveratrol supplements influence human aging is not known.

Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet.
Nature. 2006 Nov 1; Baur JA, Pearson KJ, et al. Department of Pathology, Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
Resveratrol extends the lifespan of diverse species including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. In these organisms, lifespan extension is dependent on Sir2, a conserved deacetylase proposed to underlie the beneficial effects of caloric restriction. Here we show that resveratrol shifts the physiology of middle-aged mice on a high-calorie diet towards that of mice on a standard diet and significantly increases their survival. Resveratrol produces changes associated with longer lifespan, including increased insulin sensitivity, reduced insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) levels, increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha) activity, increased mitochondrial number, and improved motor function. Parametric analysis of gene set enrichment revealed that resveratrol opposed the effects of the high-calorie diet in 144 out of 153 significantly altered pathways. The mice were fed a large dose of resveratrol, 24 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Red wine has about 1.5 to 3 milligrams of resveratrol per liter, so a 150-lb person would need to drink 1,000 bottles of red wine a day to get such a dose. Dr. Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging, which helped support the study, said that people should wait for the results of safety testing. Substances that are safe and beneficial in small doses, like vitamins, sometimes prove to be harmful when taken in high doses. Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, a therapeutics company co-founded by David Sinclair, M.D., has started a trial of a proprietary formulation of resveratrol in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Resveratrol, found in red wine, extends survival in mice. How do we make practical use of this finding? Harvard researchers tested the wine extract resveratrol on middle aged mice. Resveratrol supplementation shifted the physiology of middle-aged mice on a high-calorie diet towards that of mice on a standard diet and significantly increased their survival. The news media took a hold of this finding and one headline said, "Compound found in red wine and grapes extends lifespan of mice." Will a resveratrol supplement help you live longer? We won't know until resveratrol, in varying dosages, is given to hundreds or thousands of people for at least 10 to 20 years, and I am not aware of any large scale human resveratrol studies testing for lifespan extension that have started. Do we wait a couple of decades for more research or do we start taking a resveratrol supplement now? I don't think anyone knows for sure, and there can be a legitimate number of opinions on this topic. I can only tell you what I plan to do. I will take a 10 mg resveratrol supplement once or twice a week and drink an ounce or two of red wine some evenings with dinner. Wine has several additional beneficial polyphenolic substances with antioxidant properties.

Anti-inflammatory activity of resveratrol
Anti-inflammatory Effects of Resveratrol in Lung Epithelial Cells: Molecular Mechanisms.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2004 Jun 4
Resveratrol is a polyphenolic stilbene found in the skins of red fruits including grapes that may be responsible for some of the health benefits ascribed to the consumption of red wine. Resveratrol has previously been shown to have anti-oxidant properties and can act as an estrogen agonist. This study examined the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol on human airway epithelial cells. Resveratrol and the related molecule quercetin, but not deoxyrhapontin, inhibited both interleukin (IL)-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) release from A549 cells. Neither the estrogen receptor antagonist, tamoxifen, nor the glucocorticoid antagonist, mifepristone, altered the inhibitory effect of resveratrol. The mechanism of resveratrol action was investigated further using luciferase reporter genes stably transfected into A549 cells. Both resveratrol and quercetin inhibited NF-kappaB-, AP-1- and CREB-dependent transcription to a greater extent than the glucocorticosteroid, dexamethasone. Resveratrol, but not estradiol or N-acetyl cysteine, inhibited cytokine-stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nitrite production in human primary airway epithelial cells. Resveratrol also inhibited GM-CSF release, IL-8 release and cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression in these cells. Resveratrol and quercetin have novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory activity that may have applications for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Resveratrol cancer study and research
Resveratrol is an active polyphenol found in red wine that has anti cancer effects.

Resveratrol benefit breast cancer study
Identification of a p53-dependent pathway in the induction of apoptosis of human breast cancer cells by the natural
product, resveratrol.
Laux MT, Aregullin M, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Apr;10(2):235-9.
Resveratrol, a constituent found in grapes and various other plants, has been shown to have chemo-preventive activity against cancer, and specifically demonstrated to induce apoptosis by p53-dependent pathways in murine cells. A number of human breast cancer cell lines, as well as a control of a wild-type line (astrocytoma N 1321N1), were investigated for induction of apoptosis by resveratrol using both microscopic evaluation and DNA fragmentation assays. Apoptosis induced by resveratrol was found to occur only in breast cancer cells expressing wild-type p53 but not in mutant p53-expressing cells. We therefore conclude that the natural product, resveratrol, induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells via p53-dependent pathways.

Resveratrol and cisplatin cancer drug
Cisplatin is an antitumor drug widely used in the treatment of many malignant tumors. However, the most common adverse effect, kidney damage, limits the use of this drug in many cancer patients. Resveratrol has shown that it can protect kidney tissue in experimental nephrotoxicity models.

Resveratrol and glioma
Resveratrol suppresses the angiogenesis and tumor growth of gliomas in rats.
Clin Cancer Res. 2004 Mar 15;10(6):2190-202.
We wanted to investigate the antitumor effects and effect on angiogenesis of resveratrol in rat RT-2 gliomas. RT-2 glioma cells were treated with resveratrol, and then cytotoxicity was assayed. Tumor size, animal survival time, and survival rate were followed in resveratrol treated rats with s.c. or intracerebral gliomas. Furthermore, in vitro proliferation was assayed to explore the effect of resveratrol on the proliferation of ECV304 human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Expression of CD31 in resveratrol treated gliomas was followed immunohistochemically to study the effect of resveratrol on the glioma-induced angiogenesis. Resveratrol was demonstrated to exert cytotoxic effects and induce glioma cell apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Resveratrol (40 mg/kg/day) exerted significant antitumor effects on s.c. tumors, including slower tumor growth rate, longer animal survival time, and higher animal survival rate. In contrast, resveratrol affected intracerebral tumors at only an increased dose (100 mg/kg/day), prolonging animal survival without affecting survival rate. Resveratrol caused significant glioma cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis, exerted antitumor effects on the s.c. and intracerebral gliomas, and inhibited angiogenesis in s.c. gliomas. Thus, resveratrol might be considered a possible treatment strategy for gliomas.

Resveratrol protects heart tissue from cancer chemotherapy drug
Resveratrol can relieve the toxic effects of adriamycin on heart tissue, and the heart protecting effects may be related to with its antioxidant activity.

Resveratrol benefit liver cancer
In vitro studies indicate that resveratrol suppresses TNF-alpha-mediated NF-kappa B expression and invasion of HepG2 cells. Resveratrol inhibits TNF-alpha-mediated MMP-9 expression and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The inhibitory effects are partly associated with the downregulation of the NF-kappa B signaling pathway.

Resveratrol and lung cancer
Consumption of red wine is associated with a slight but statistically significant reduction in the development of lung cancer, as reported in the journal Thorax. Red wine contains tannins and resveratrol, substances which could explain the drink’s anti-cancer properties. Tannins act as antioxidants, which mop up free radicals — particles harmful to cells. Resveratrol is known to fight cancer tumor growth.

Resveratrol and neuroblastoma
Curcumin and resveratrol induce apoptosis and nuclear translocation and activation of p53 in human neuroblastoma.
Anticancer Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;24(2B):987-98.
Neuroblastoma is an aggressive childhood cancer of the peripheral nervous system arising from neural crest sympathoadrenal progenitor cells. Despite current rigorous treatment protocols, prognosis for high stage NB patients is poor and so there remains a need for more effective, less cytotoxic treatments. Curcumin and resveratrol possess anti-tumor properties in adult cancer models and negligible toxicity in normal cells, but little is known about the effect of these agents on pediatric cancers. Stage 4 MYCN-amplified Neuroblastoma cell lines, with wild-type or mutant p53, were treated with curcumin and resveratrol and analyzed for effects on proliferation, cell cycle, induction of apoptosis and p53 function. Treatment with resveratrol and curcumin induced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability, cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Observations suggest that the cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by curcumin and resveratrol in Neuroblastoma cells may be mediated via functionally activated p53 and merit further study.

Resveratrol induced cellular apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in neuroblastoma cells and antitumor effects on neuroblastoma in mice.
Surgery. 2004 Jul;136(1):57-66.
We investigated the effects of resveratrol on the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle alteration of neuroblastoma cells and determined its effects on neuroblastoma tumors in mice. Cytotoxic effects, cellular apoptosis, and alterations in the cell cycle were determined in neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells exposed for varying lengths of time to a series of resveratrol concentrations. Expression of associated cell cycle regulatory proteins, cyclin E and p21, was detected by Western blot analysis, and the antitumor effects of resveratrol were investigated by treating subcutaneous neuroblastoma tumors with intraperitoneal injections of 40 mg/kg resveratrol daily for 28 days.  Resveratrol exerted cytotoxic effects on neuroblastoma cells. Resveratrol caused significant cytotoxicity and increased apoptosis and S-phase accumulation of neuroblastoma cells. S-phase accumulation was related to the down-regulation of p21 and up-regulation of cyclin E. In addition, resveratrol exerted antitumor effects on neuroblastomas in mice. Thus, resveratrol shows promise for the treatment of neuroblastoma.

Resveratrol and prostate cancer
Modulation of androgen receptor-dependent transcription by resveratrol and genistein in prostate cancer cells.
Prostate. 2004 May 1;59(2):214-25. Gao S, Liu GZ, Wang Z. The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas .
The androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the biological responses of androgens in the prostate gland. This study focuses on the chemopreventive agents, resveratrol and genistein, on AR-mediated transcription in prostate cancer cells. RESULTS: We found that resveratrol and genistein activated AR-driven gene expression at low concentrations, whereas they repressed the AR-dependent reporter gene activity at high concentrations. We determined that resveratrol and genistein induced AR-driven gene expression by activating the Raf-MEK-ERK kinase pathway. The ERK1 kinase phosphorylated the AR on multiple sites in vitro, but this phosphorylation event did not contribute to the resveratrol-induced AR transactivation. In vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that resveratrol and genistein are promising chemopreventive agents. Given the clear evidence that AR pathways are involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer, these data showed that the ability to modulate AR function would contribute the observed chemopreventive activity of resveratrol and genistein.

Role of resveratrol in cancer
Role of resveratrol in prevention and therapy of cancer: preclinical and clinical studies.
Anticancer Res. 2004 Sep-Oct;24(5A):2783-840. Aggarwal BB, Bhardwaj A, Aggarwal RS, Seeram NP, Shishodia S, Takada Y. Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson  
Besides cardioprotective effects, resveratrol exhibits anticancer properties, as suggested by its ability to suppress proliferation of a wide variety of tumor cells, including lymphoid and myeloid cancers; multiple myeloma; cancers of the breast, prostate, stomach, colon, pancreas, and thyroid; melanoma; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; ovarian carcinoma; and cervical carcinoma. The growth-inhibitory effects of resveratrol are mediated through cell-cycle arrest; upregulation of p21Cip1/WAF1, p53 and Bax; down-regulation of survivin, cyclin D1, cyclin E, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and clAPs; and activation of caspases. Resveratrol has been shown to suppress the activation of several transcription factors, including NF-kappaB, AP-1 and Egr-1; to inhibit protein kinases including IkappaBalpha kinase, JNK, MAPK, Akt, PKC, PKD and casein kinase II; and to down-regulate products of genes such as COX-2, 5-LOX, VEGF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, AR and PSA. These activities account for the suppression of angiogenesis by this stilbene. Resveratrol also has been shown to potentiate the apoptotic effects of cytokines (e.g., TRAIL), chemotherapeutic agents and gamma-radiation. Phamacokinetic studies revealed that the target organs of resveratrol are liver and kidney, where it is concentrated after absorption and is mainly converted to a sulfated form and a glucuronide conjugate. In vivo, resveratrol blocks the multistep process of carcinogenesis at various stages: it blocks carcinogen activation by inhibiting aryl hydrocarbon-induced CYP1A1 expression and activity, and suppresses tumor initiation, promotion and progression. Besides chemopreventive effects, resveratrol appears to exhibit therapeutic effects against cancer.

Wine and tumors: study of resveratrol.
Drugs Exp Clin Res. 2003;29(5-6):257-61.
In modern industrial societies the attention to public health, especially in relation to food habits, is increasing day by day. Considering this, it's no wonder that wine, the voluptuary drink that best represents human history, is the most interesting compound. The main and best known wine effects on the human body are caused by alcohol, but several other active compounds are present in wine. Above all, resveratrol is able to neutralize free radicals, which can damage DNA and may lead to cancer onset. In this study, we have indagated resveratrol anticancer action, analyzing its effects on both cell cycle and growing of human lymphoma B (DHL-4) cells. MTT colorimetric test, tripan blue dye exclusion assay, and cell cycle analysis showed that resveratrol has a dose-dependent antiproliferative and antiapoptotic action on DHL-4 cells. These results confirm resveratrol's potential therapeutic role on tumors.

Resveratrol and fungus infections
Fungicidal effect of resveratrol on human infectious fungi.
Arch Pharm Res. 2005 May;28(5):557-60.
Resveratrol, a phenolic antioxidant found in grapes, has been known to mediate various biological activities on the human body. In the present study, we tested the antifungal activity of resveratrol against human pathogenic fungi before carrying out further studies to elucidate the antifungal mechanism(s) of resveratrol. Resveratrol displayed potent antifungal activity against human pathogenic fungi at concentration levels of 10-20 microg/mL. Furthermore, time-kill curve exhibited fungicidal effect of resveratrol on Candida albicans, but the compound had no hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes. The destruction of C. albicans cells by resveratrol was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. These results suggest that resveratrol could be employed as a therapeutic agent to treat fungal infections of humans.

Resveratrol benefit in heart disease prevention
Resveratrol protects the circulation in the heart and other organs in several ways, including protection against ischemic-reperfusion injury, relaxation of blood vessels to improve circulation, protection and maintenance of intact endothelium, reduction of hardening of the arteries, inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation, and suppression of platelet aggregation which improves blood flow and reduces blood clotting.

Potent induction of cellular antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes by resveratrol in cardiomyocytes: protection against oxidative and electrophilic injury.
Cao Z, Li Y. St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Jamaica, NY Eur J Pharmacol. 2004 Apr 5;489(1-2):39-48.
Resveratrol is known to be protective against oxidative cardiovascular disorders. This study was undertaken to determine if resveratrol could increase endogenous antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cardiomyocytes, and if such increased cellular defenses could provide protection against oxidative and electrophilic cell injury. Incubation of cardiac H9C2 cells with low micromolar resveratrol resulted in a significant induction of a scope of cellular antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes. This study demonstrates that resveratrol induces antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in cardiomyocytes, which is accompanied by increased resistance to oxidative and electrophilic cell injury.

Resveratrol benefit against influenza virus
Resveratrol, a chemical found in red grapes, blocks replication of the influenza virus in cell culture and in animals. In cell culture experiments, resveratrol prevented influenza from replicating. Resveratrol treatment had the greatest effect when administered 3 hours after exposure to influenza. Smaller but significant effects were seen when treatment began 6 hours after infection, but at 9 hours after infection resveratrol treatment had no effect. Pre-treatment also did not change susceptibility to infection. Studies in a mouse model of influenza showed that injections of resveratrol after inoculation of influenza increased survival by 40% compared with placebo injections. The amount of virus present in the lung 6 days after infection was 98% lower in the resveratrol -treated mice. Resveratrol  's anti-influenza activity seems to center on its ability to interfere with key "host-cell functions" that are essential for virus replication, the authors explain in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, May 15, 2005.

Resveratrol benefit for vision
Resveratrol reduces oxidation and proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells via extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibition.
Chem Biol Interact. 2005 Jan 15;151(2):143-9. King RE, Kent KD, Bomser JA. Department of Food Science and Technology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Epidemiological evidence suggests that moderate wine consumption and antioxidant-rich diets may protect against age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly. Development of age-related macular degeneration and other retinal diseases, such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy, is associated with oxidative stress in the retinal pigment epithelium, a cell layer responsible for maintaining the health of the retina by providing structural and nutritional support. We hypothesize that resveratrol, a red wine polyphenol, may be responsible, in part, for the health benefits of moderate red wine consumption on retinal disease. To test this hypothesis, the antioxidant and antiproliferative effects of resveratrol were examined in a human retinal pigment epithelium cell line. These results suggest that resveratrol can reduce oxidative stress and hyperproliferation of the retinal pigment epithelium.

Resveratrol supplement benefit summary
This molecule will certainly continue to get a lot of media attention. You may consider drinking an ounce or two of red wine a few times a week or you could take a resveratrol supplement a few times a week. Until we learn more about resveratrol, we prefer not to take a resveratrol supplement every single day since most people take medicines or other supplements and we don't know how resveratrol will interact with them in the long run. We also have no idea on what the right resveratrol dosage is when used for prolonged periods. It is best to be patient and wait for more resveratrol supplement research information in human before taking this pill every day in high dosages.

Resveratrol side effects
Q. Does resveratrol supplement have side effects?
   A. Since human studies are minimal, we do not know the full range of resveratrol side effects or benefits at this time. No resveratrol side effects have been mentioned in the medical literature as of January 2008.

Resveratrol research - resveratrol content in blueberries and bilberries decreased by cooking
Resveratrol in raw and baked blueberries and bilberries.
J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Sep 24;51(20):5867-70. Lyons MM, Yu C, Toma RB, Cho SY, Reiboldt W, Lee J, van Breemen RB. Food and Nutritional Science Division, California State University-Long Beach, CA 90840
Resveratrol in the fruits of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), the lowbush "wild" blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton), the rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade), and the highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) were measured using a new assay based on high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The LC-MS/MS assay provided lower limits of detection than previous methods for resveratrol measurement, 90 fmol of trans-resveratrol injected on-column, and a linear standard curve spanning >3 orders of magnitude. The recoveries of resveratrol from blueberries spiked with 1.8, 3.6, or 36 ng/g were 91, 95, and 88%, respectively. trans-Resveratrol but not cis-resveratrol was detected in both blueberry and bilberry samples. The highest levels of trans-resvertatrol in these specimens were 140 pmol/g in highbush blueberries from Michigan and 71 pmol/g in bilberries from Poland. However, considerable regional variation was observed; highbush blueberries from British Columbia contained no detectable resveratrol. Because blueberries and bilberries are often consumed after cooking, the effect of baking on resveratrol content was investigated. After 18 min of heating at 190 degrees C, between 17 and 46% of the resveratrol had degraded in the various Vaccinium species. Therefore, the resveratrol content of baked or heat-processed blueberries or bilberries should be expected to be lower than in the raw fruit. Although blueberries and bilberries were found to contain resveratrol, the level of this chemoprotective compound in these fruits was <10% that reported for grapes. Furthermore, cooking or heat processing of these berries will contribute to the degradation of resveratrol.

Live longer by sipping red wine?
Resveratrol has been in the news a great deal lately. Extensive research from all over the globe contiunes to accumulate about the benefits of this interesting compound. Studies show resveratrol is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-infective, and it activates the longevity gene. Recent laboratory studies indicate that resveratrol has promising therapeutic activity in various cancers, including breast, prostate, and neuroblastoma. As to its anti-aging potential, resveratrol activates a cell's survival defense enzyme, which prolongs the time cells have to repair their broken DNA. As red wine is a rich source of resveratrol, many sources will reference resveratrol as "red wine polyphenols," "red-wine extract," etc. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of misinformation about resveratrol, keep the following in mind when reviewing articles and marketing information about related products. As resveratrol is found in the skins of grapes, red wine will provide several times more resveratrol than white wine. As resveratrol is vulnerable to fairly rapid destruction by light and oxygen, the fact that wine is stored in air-tight, cool conditions away from sun light protects the resveratrol content. Only immediately after a bottle of wine is opened is the maximum resveratrol potency available.
     Comments: Drinking an ounce or two of red wine with dinner a few times a week seems to be a good option.

Resveratrol extracts - pure resveratrol question
Resveratrol is found in a number of herbs and plants. Raw material suppliers have various resveratrol extract potencies. For instance, they can concentrate the resveratrol in an herb from as little as a few percent to as high as 90 percent. The resveratrol supplement made by Club Natural is a 25% extract from the herb Polygonum Cuspidatum. The resveratrol extract from 40 mg of Polygonum Cuspidatum root leads to 10 mg of resveratrol itself. Since human studies with resveratrol supplements are at the early stages, no one knows what extract potency is best. Twenty-five percent is a good option for the time being.

Q. Where can I find pure resveratrol over the counter?
   A. If by pure resveratrol you mean 100 percent resveratrol, we don't think this is available to the public yet. Almost all of the resveratrol in supplement form is an extract from herbs and along with ingesting the resveratrol, you will also be ingesting the other substances in these herbs, which most likely have their own beneficial effects. Some raw material suppliers are now able to make a 99 percent resveratrol extract.

Resveratrol raw material availability
Resveratrol is a brown fine powder with characteristic odor that is often derived from the herb Polygonum cuspidatum. Available reseveratrol raw material ingredient comes in several extract potencies: Resveratrol extract 5%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 80%, 98% and 99%.

Resveratrol dose or dosage
Not enough human studies are available with resveratrol supplements to know the proper dosage for long term use.

Resveratrol pill questions
Q. I have been hearing about Resveratrol pills for some time, and today I purchased the Club Natural brand; partly
because of Dr. Sahelian's reputation, and partly because of price. At the same time, I received an e-mail promoting the brand RESVERT, which has the ingredients: Red Wine Extract, 25 mg Trans-Resveratrol, 100 mg Proanthrocyanadins, 100mg quercetin bioflavinoids per capsule. The Club Natural does not mention red wine extract, although that is supposed to be the major source.
   A. Resveratrol is found in red wine, however there is a very high concentration of resveratrol in an herb called
Polygonum Cuspidatum and most often now the source of raw material of reveratrol is extracted through this herb. The end result is the same resveratrol molecule as that found in red wine.

Q. I have read conflicting things about resveratrol and nitric oxide on the internet. Does resveratrol increase or decrease nitric oxide synthase? If it decreases it, I would think it would have a beneficial effect on erections. If it increased it, I would think it would have a negative effect on erections.
   A. It appears that resveratrol increases nitric oxide levels.

Pretreatment effect of resveratrol on streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2007 Sep;118(3):244-9. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Ankara University, Sihhiye, Ankara 06100, Turkey.
This study was planned to investigate the pretreatment effect of resveratrol on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. At the end of the study, increases in catalase activity, nitric oxide level, and zinc concentrations and decreases in lipid peroxidation product MDA and copper concentrations were found in the resveratrol -pretreated diabetic group when compared to the diabetic group.

Resveratrol, a component of red wine, elicits dilation of isolated porcine retinal arterioles: role of nitric oxide and potassium channels.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Sep;48(9):4232-9. Department of Ophthalmology, Scott & White Eye Institute, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Temple, TX 76504, USA.
Resveratrol, a polyphenolic phytoalexin found in grapes and red wine, has been shown to exert cardiovascular benefits, but its action in the retinal microcirculation remains unknown. In this study, the direct effect and the underlying mechanism of the vasomotor action of resveratrol were examined in retinal arterioles. Resveratrol elicits endothelium-dependent and -independent dilation of retinal arterioles. Endothelium-dependent dilation is mediated by the released nitric oxide, probably via NO synthase (NOS) activation by the ERK pathway and the subsequent activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase. The activation of BK(Ca) channels in smooth muscle contributes to the endothelium-independent dilation caused by resveratrol.
pinot noir resveratrol resveratrol wine.

Additonal pages on this web site
Memory supplement research - which supplements are the best memory enhancers?
Nutritional supplement use - how much is too much?
Polygonum cuspidatum - the source of
resveratrol sold in supplement form is often from this herb
Resveratrol cancer research updates. Resveratrol causes apoptosis in certain cancer cells.
Resveratrol dosage information - what is the best resveratrol amount to take?
Resveratrol supplement additional research
Antioxidant resveratrol

Additional resveratrol pill questions
Q. I am the founder of a wholistic body work methodology. I am very much into anti aging, regeneration and
youthful functioning. My present inquiry is about resveratrol supplement , the ideal source, where to buy resveratrol supplements, the dosages to take for maximum benefit and long life.
   A. As of January 2008, there is no long term good human research to determine the ideal dosage or source of resveratrol, nor is there human research that tells us whether taking a resveratrol supplement provides health benefits. This is an excerpt from Dr. Sahelian's newsletter in 2006.
    "I find it quite interesting that resveratrol, found in red wine, extends survival in mice. How do we make practical use of this finding? Harvard researchers tested the wine extract resveratrol on middle aged mice. Resveratrol supplementation shifted the physiology of middle-aged mice on a high-calorie diet towards that of mice on a standard diet and significantly increased their survival. The news media took a hold of this finding and one headline said, "Compound found in red wine and grapes extends lifespan of mice." What makes this interesting is that in previous studies over the past few years, resveratrol was found to have a similar benefit on yeast, flies and worms. This was the first evaluation of resveratrol on survival extension in mammals. One group of mice ate a normal diet. The second was fed a high-calorie diet and the third had the same high calorie diet but was given resveratrol supplements. By the time the mice were 114 weeks old, about 60 percent in the high-calorie group had died, compared to about 40 percent in the low calorie diet group and the group with the high calorie diet supplemented with resveratrol. The mice taking resveratrol had healthier heart and liver tissue, decreased blood sugar levels, better insulin sensitivity and were more active than the other rodents.
   Will a resveratrol supplement help you live longer? We won't know until resveratrol, in varying dosages, is given to hundreds or thousands of people for at least 10 to 20 years, and I am not aware of any large scale resveratrol human studies testing for lifespan extension that have started. Do we wait a couple of decades for more research or do we start taking a resveratrol supplement now? I don't think anyone knows for sure, and there can be a legitimate number of opinions on this topic. I can only tell you what I plan to do. I will take a 10 mg resveratrol supplement once or twice a week and drink an ounce or two of red wine some evenings with dinner. Wine has several additional beneficial polyphenolic substances with antioxidant properties."

Q. I have been taking 75mg of trans-resveratrol supplement every day. What concerns me is the interactions while taking medications. Does a resveratrol supplement interact with pharmaceutical medications?
   A. Hardly any human studies are available with resveratrol supplements, do we don't know at this time.

Q. Before I buy a resveratrol pill, I wanted to know if it is generally okay to take along with two ounces of red wine a day.
   A. We don't suspect any problems, if you are healthy, that taking a resveratrol pill along with a small amount of red wine would cause any problems.

Q. Is trans resveratrol a better option as a supplement than a resveratrol pill?
   A. Since human comparison studies have not been done, we don't know.

Q. What's the difference between resveratrol and resveratrol extract?
   A. Resveratrol is found in a number of herbs and plants. Since resveratrol is the actual substance we are looking for, there is no such thing as a resveratrol extract. The resveratrol supplement made by Club Natural is an extract from the herb Polygonum Cuspidatum. The resveratrol extract from 40 mg of Polygonum Cuspidatum root leads to 10 mg of resveratrol itself.

Q. Which white or red wine has the highest resveratrol content?
   A. Pinot Noir has the highest resveratrol content of any wine. White wine has hardly any resveratrol.

Q. How much resveratrol should one take daily for its benefit and positive effects?
   A. The answers are not in, but it would seem reasonable to take one 10 mg resveratrol pill a couple of times a week.

Q. Does taking a resveratrol supplement lead to weight loss?
   A. We are not sure. We do know that Diet Rx works for weight loss.

Additional links of interest
Ray Sahelian, M.D. natural healing web site that reviews research on resveratrol supplement and anti-aging research.
Side effects of natural supplements
grape juice and resveratrol