Resveratrol – pills to replace a healthy diet?

Abstract

Nutrapharmacology, or the use of bioactive food compounds at pharmacological doses is emerging as a therapeutic approach to target the complex metabolic dysregulations in ageing and obesity-related chronic disease. Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in the skin of grapes, and other edible plants and related food products, has received extensive attention through the link with the French paradox, and later with its chemopreventive activity demonstrated in vitro and in animal cancer models. A plethora of laboratory investigations has provided evidence for the multi-faceted properties of resveratrol and suggests that resveratrol may target ageing and obesity-related chronic disease by regulating inflammation and oxidative stress. A number of obstacles stand in the path to clinical usage however, not least the lack of clinical evidence to date, and the myriad of doses and formulations available. Further, data on the effects of resveratrol consumption in a capsule vs. food form is conflicting, and there are uncertain effects of long term dosing. The review will summarize the human pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic published data, and the topics for research if resveratrol is to become a multi-target therapeutic agent addressing chronic disease.

Resveratrol Supplementation in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…Resveratrol (3, 5, 4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a naturally occurring polyphenol, which activates AMPK and SIRT1; thereby, it mimics a condition of caloric restriction as shown in a number of in vitro and in vivo studies [20,21]. The presented meta-analysis shows that there is no sufficient evidence to support the efficacy of resveratrol in the management of NAFLD, as resveratrol did not show a significant reduction in the degree of fibrosis, or in the level of markers of liver damage and inflammatory markers.…”

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana on Knee Damage Associated with Arthritis

“…22,23 Evidence shows that resveratrol possesses various anti-inflammatory activities, such as decreasing neuroinflammation, chronic inflammation, and cytokine-mediated inflammations. 24,25 In addition, hopeaphenol and (+)-eviniferin, resveratrol derivatives in VT, were also reported to have anti-inflammatory effects. 2,26 Studies have demonstrated that two components are neuroprotective and improve vascular function.…”

Resveratrol inhibits 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity in rat adipose microsomes

“…In this study, an inhibitory effect of 11b-HSD1 activity in microsomes of rat adipose tissue was observed at 1 mM resveratrol. According to the amount of resveratrol in the foods (Chachay et al 2011), the appearance of 1 mM resveratrol in blood is equivalent to the ingestion of 13.7-27.4 g fresh grape skin or 130 ml red wine (pinot noir). Therefore, it seems possible to ingest this amount of resveratrol daily.…”

“…Similar to most polyphenols, resveratrol has antioxidant activity. It is commonly found in fresh grape skins, red wine (pinot noir), boiled peanuts, and blueberries (dry sample) at 5-10 mg/100 g, 10.5 mg/l, 0.52 mg/100 g, and 0.4 mg/100 g respectively (Chachay et al 2011). As an ingredient of red wine, resveratrol explains the epidemiological phenomenon called the 'French paradox', in which red wine consumption is associated with a low incidence of cardiovascular disease (Petrovski et al 2011, Smoliga et al 2011, Turan et al 2012.…”