Many people think that resveratrol may have anti-aging properties, which has caused the substance, usually derived from the Japanese knot weed, to be marketed as a nutritional supplement. So far, the many studies conducted on mice have provided the only evidence for claims that resveratrol extracts may lead to longer life.
Of the initial reasons that resveratrol was thought to be beneficial was observation of the French lifestyle. Although the French on average tend to consume a diet higher in fats than in many other countries, they have an unexpectedly low incidence of heart disease or failures. Many agree that the lower levels of heart disease are due to frequent consumption of red wine.Though it has been shown that red wine has anti-coagulating effects, many feel that resveratrol also plays a role in this life giving formula.
It should be stated that the amount of resveratrol found in red wine is relatively minimal. The best common food source if one wishes to consume resveratrol in its natural state is the peanut. The peanut has a significantly higher resveratrol content than any other berries or grapes that produce the chemical.
Preliminary studies have also suggested that resveratrol might be a great antioxidant, may extend exercise tolerance, and also helps reduce memory loss. There is some evidence to support the claim that it may increase the ability to fight retroviruses like HIV and herpes simplex, however it should be noted that resveratrol is not a cure for HIV.
Since resveratrol is also an anti-aging drug, it has already been marketed as a nutritional supplement. This may be a bit premature since not all negative impacts have been studied. There has been some evidence in mice studies to suggest that resveratrol might act like an estrogen in the body and may actually contribute to more cases of breast cancer in aged male mice.
However, the nutritional supplement of resveratrol contains tiny amounts of this harmful side effect, compared to what can be naturally derived from food. Some evidence has shown that when resveratrol is consumed in food, it may actually leave the body much more quickly than the chemical supplement version would. As well, resveratrol supplements are at much lower doses than those used in most mouse studies, so effects should be minimized.