|
After its mention on such shows as Oprah and 60-Minutes, resveratrol gained popularity with the public and was marketed by the media as the answer to the ‘French paradox’. This is because the French drink much more wine than other countries, and despite eating a high fat content diet, generally exhibited better health. Since resveratrol can be found in the skin of red grapes and is a constituent of red wine this was assumed to be the answer.
Mouse and rat experiments show promising results for resveratrol for anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, lowering blood-sugar and has been linked to beneficial cardiovascular effects, but these results have not been reproduced in human trials. The most promising result were in studies using high doses of resveratrol (3 g - 5 g) to significantly lower blood sugar. So even though resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and in red wine it is no where near the concentrations needed to provide the benefits so readily acclaimed. Often proclaimed as the anti-aging miracle, experiments have shown that resveratrol treatment extended the life of fruit flies, nematode worms and short living fish but it did not increase the life span of mice.
One study showed promise by feeding mice a high fat diet supplemented with 22 mg of resveratrol per 2.2 lbs of body weight. The mice supplemented with the resveratrol did show a 30% lower risk of heart disease than non-supplemented mice. In laboratory in-vitro trials resveratrol did show some promise for cancer treatment, but that has not been replicated in practical use.
It should be noted that even peanuts contain about half the resveratrol found in grape skins. The same is true of Japanese knotweed, which is the primary source of resveratrol found in most supplements.
The bottom line is that to achieve even small benefits as proclaimed by marketers, huge doses of resveratrol are required, and even then, most of it is not bio-available to the body and what is absorbed into the blood stream is in small amounts and does not remain in the blood more than 3 to 4 hours.
Studies still continue for resveratrol in an effort to find that miracle cure so many seek. In the meantime, marketers will continue to produce claims of miracle benefits, while evidence does not support these claims.
We carry resveratrol products at the request of our customers, but in light of results of studies, we do not promote them as a wonder supplement. We have chosen a resveratrol product produced from grape skins and manufactured by a reputable company. Perhaps studies will show that resveratrol is the answer to the French paradox, but it will require long term consumption to produce measurable results. We just don’t know yet. Sorry if you don’t like what we say, but we will not hype any product that has not been proven. If you do want to flush your money down the drain, please buy from us - we carry some of the best resveratrol on the market
|
