Share

Resveratrol supplements may have no health benefits

accreditation
iStock

Resveratrol – a substance found in red wine, grapes and chocolate may not add years to your life, and it doesn't appear to reduce the risk for heart disease or cancer either, according to new research.

"When it comes to diet, health and ageing, things are not simple and probably do not boil down to one single substance, such as resveratrol," said study lead researcher Dr Richard Semba, a professor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

The findings also cast doubt about taking resveratrol supplements, he said.

"Perhaps it brings us back again to rather tried and true advice of diet – Mediterranean-style – and regular aerobic exercise for healthy ageing," said Semba.

The report was published in the online edition of JAMA Internal Medicine.

Read: Red wine may help you live longer

Red wine and chocolate have been shown to have beneficial effects on health, and these benefits were attributed largely to a single substance – resveratrol. Resveratrol has been credited as being responsible for the so-called "French paradox", in which even a diet high in cholesterol and fat can be healthy if it is accompanied with red wine, the researchers explained.

No significant differences

For the study, Semba's team followed nearly 800 men and women 65 years or older who were part of the Aging in the Chianti Region study from 1998 to 2009 in two villages in Italy.

These folks had a diet rich in resveratrol, the researchers note.

To see if resveratrol in the diet could lower the risk of cancer, heart disease and death, the researchers measured traces of products left by resveratrol in the participant's urine.

During the follow-up period, 268 people (34.3%) died; 174 (27.2 %) developed heart disease and 34 (4.6 %) developed cancer, the researchers found.

When the researchers looked at the resveratrol levels, they found no significant differences in the rate of death from those with the lowest levels to the highest. They also found no association with higher levels of resveratrol and a lower risk of heart disease or cancer. In fact, the lowest rates of heart disease were in people with the lowest levels of resveratrol.

Test tubes and animals

The bottom line, according to Semba, is that dietary resveratrol didn't translate into fewer deaths, cancers or heart problems.

Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist at New York University Medical Centre in New York City, said, "A quick search of the medical literature finds that many of the current studies done with resveratrol have been done in test tubes or in animals. This study, in humans, seems to indicate that an increased consumption of foods that contain resveratrol, such as red grapes and wine, does not affect long-term health over nine years. It may be that the effects of dietary resveratrol are not evident in this time period."

Resveratrol is famous for giving the green light to people who want to consume alcohol, Heller said.

"Many of my patients ask me, 'Should I start or continue to drink wine? It's heart-healthy, isn't it?'" she said.

One of the reasons red wine in particular is considered heart-healthy is because of its resveratrol content, Heller said.

Read: Anti-oxidant counteracts exercise benefits

Looking at the whole picture

However, alcohol in any form can be toxic when one drinks too much. "While some studies indicate that regular consumption of red wine may have health benefits, the reality is that many of us drink too much alcohol, which over time can adversely affect liver and brain function, as well as blood sugar and weight," Heller said.

Fruits and vegetables are loaded with a lot of phytochemicals (including resveratrol), vitamins and minerals that work together to help promote health and fight disease, she said.

"Red grapes, peanuts, berries and other foods containing resveratrol are great to include in your diet; however, since we eat foods and not single nutrients or compounds, we must remember to look at the whole picture of what we eat and how we choose to live," said Heller.

Current research and common sense suggests that a more plant-based, whole-food diet and regular exercise have long-term health benefits, Heller said.

"This is not to say that a glass of wine now and then is not a healthy option. The American Heart Association recommends an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women," Heller said.

Read more:

Red wine more heart-healthy than vodka
Drink to a healthy heart

Many ill-informed about red wine, sea salt

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE