The Advantages of the Antioxidant Resveratrol

If you subscribe to the “everything in moderation” philosophy and are a red wine drinker, you’ll be especially happy to know you may be reaping the health benefits of a compound found naturally in grapes. Resveratrol, part of a group of compounds called polyphenols, acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This chemical is commonly associated with red wine because it’s in the skins of red grapes.

Proponents say that resveratrol can protect the body against cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s, and could even boost endurance.

Combat cancer

Promising studies continue to examine the positive effects of resveratrol on cancer patients. Researchers in South Korea recently found that combining the chemotherapy drug cisplatin with resveratrol could actually treat malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The study showed that resveratrol made malignant cells more vulnerable to cisplatin by inducing “cell death.” Cisplatin has been used for many years to treat mesothelioma - an asbestos-causing cancer of the lungs - and other types of cancer as well.

In a different study on cell cultures, resveratrol helped suppress breast cancer progression in early stages. Published in Cancer Prevention Research, the study found that resveratrol helped prevent estrogen from reacting with DNA molecules and forming compounds that mark the start of cancer cell formation.

One of the most common radiologic technologies of identifying body changes at the cellular level is through a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, a special camera and computer that help evaluate tissue and organ functions.

Diabetes management

Red wine has long been known to reduce insulin resistance and lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Similar to research on the beneficial effects of resveratrol on cancer treatment, studies are also making the connection with Type 2 diabetes treatment.

Published in the journal European Endocrinology, a research review shows that resveratrol could enhance the effect of the oral drug metformin.

However, too much of a good thing is bad. Alcohol abuse and addiction completely negate any advantages, and some studies have found no decrease in overall mortality even with moderate drinking.

Enhance endurance

Competitive athletes are always looking for an edge in fitness. A Canadian study conducted with rats over a 12-week period showed that resveratrol supplements in addition to endurance training resulted in a 21% increase in performance. Even without the training component, the study showed an increase in endurance, oxidative metabolism and enhanced cardiac function with resveratrol supplements alone.

Alzheimer’s Disease

It’s not clear exactly how resveratrol supplements affect the Alzheimer’s disease process, but there is evidence that people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s may keep the disease from progressing.

In what is the largest and longest study of Alzheimer’s patients, the people treated showed improvements in maintaining daily activities on their own, such as dressing and bathing. But researchers cautioned that the doses patients took in purified form were extremely high and not found on the market currently - or equivalent to 1,000 bottles of red wine.

Supplements over the counter are not regulated and more studies are needed to determine if resveratrol has true benefits that can directly target Alzheimer’s effectively.

Heart disease

The leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2011 was heart disease. Study participants in Canada found that by drinking one-to-two 5-ounce glasses of wine per day, they reduced their risk of artheroscelrotic disease, a precursor to heart disease and stroke. Similarly, researchers in Connecticut determined that resveratrol protects the the heart to avoid cardiac events.

Long to be thought of as “heart healthy,” red wine is fine in moderation (one or two small glasses), but doctors are not encouraging patients to take up a drinking habit because too much drinking leads to harmful effects on the body, especially if there’s a family history of alcohol abuse. Also, bear in mind there’s no proof the red wine antioxidant helps you live longer, according to WebMD.