Resveratrol

Resveratrol is found in relative abundance not only
in grapes and red wine, but also, not surprisingly, in
raisins and purple grape juice. And it is found in
peanuts, mulberries, eucalyptus trees, and the root
of the Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum),
the source of most of the resveratrol sold in nutritional
supplements.

In vineyards, the leaves and grapes produce resveratrol
not routinely, but in response to environmental stresses,
such as dehydration, nutrient deprivation, and attack by pathogenic organisms, which the compound is there to combat. Such defensive molecules are known as phytoalexins, from the Greek words for “plant” and “protector,” but we might well consider resveratrol to be a “people-alexin” too, considering all that it does to protect our health—and even, perhaps, extend our lifespan, as discussed in the accompanying article.

There is growing evidence that resveratrol has cardioprotective effects through a variety of mechanisms: it inhibits platelet aggregation, the proliferation of smooth-muscle cells, and the oxidation of LDL-cholesterol (probably through its strong antioxidant effects); it reduces the synthesis of certain lipids and eicosanoids that tend to promote atherosclerosis; and it suppresses certain cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Some of these effects may be due in part to resveratrol’s being a phytoestrogen, i.e., a plant compound that has biological activities similar to those of estrogens. [1]

Furthermore, resveratrol has demonstrated anticarcinogenic activity: it inhibits cellular events associated with the initiation, promotion, and progression of tumors through a wide range of actions that are still poorly understood. It appears to help detoxify carcinogens, to inhibit the synthesis of various cancer-related compounds, and to stimulate the genetic mechanism for the apoptosis (programmed death) of cancer cells.

Much of the scientific evidence for resveratrol’s benefits is discussed in the PDR for Nutritional Supplements, which provides 35 references to the literature on the subject. [2] The authors emphasize that most of the evidence is derived from animal and laboratory studies (which can sometimes be misleading), and that more and better human clinical trials are needed to confirm the results. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that resveratrol is a genuinely important molecule for good health.

1. Gehm BD, McAndrews JM, Chien PY, Jameson JL. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in grapes and wine, is an agonist for the estrogen receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1997 Dec;94:14138-43.
2. Hendler SS, Rorvik D, eds. PDR for Nutritional Supplements. Medical Economics Company, Montvale, NJ, 2001, pp 397-401.

Resveratrol, in particular, has been demonstrated to be a potent anti-oxidant (about 20-50 times as effectively as vitamin C alone) and act synergistically with vitamin C enhancing the effects of each. Resveratrol has been demonstrated to have an anti-clotting effect that prevents the formation of thrombi or blood clots in the blood vessels. The formation of thrombi that block small blood vessels is believed to be a cause of heart attacks and strokes. Resveratrol has been demonstrated to have anti-cancer effects as well.

Nature’s Way Resveratrol is a synergistic blend of resveratrol from Japanese Knotweed, Red Wine extract and Grape seed extract.