Wine is good for us right? That’s what we’ve been hearing in the media lately. The benefits that have been linked to drinking wine are thought to be due to a chemical called resveratrol. This chemical is found in higher concentrations in red wine (as apposed to white wine) because it is found in red grape skins and seeds. Wines produced in cold, humid climates have a higher resveratrol content. Due to studies that have shown the potential health benefits of resveratrol, there are many resveratrol supplements now on the market including Longevinex and Revatrol.

Resveratrol is thought to be responsible for the ‘French Paradox’ first described in the 1990’s. The French Paradox refers to the fact that French people who drink wine have a relatively low risk of cardiovascular disease despite their high fat diet. Recent studies suggest that resveratrol may activate enzymes in the body that regulate sugar and fat metabolism. It may also increase HDL cholesterol (AKA ‘good cholesterol’), help prevent blood clots and increase cell survival. Additionally, resveratrol is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects, help keep the blood vessels dilated and may even inhibit tumor growth. Resveratrol was recently shown to increase longevity in mice on high calorie diets.

So far, resveratrol studies have only been conducted in mice. So how does this information translate to humans? Experts are not sure. We do know that there have been some human studies that have looked at different populations and their alcohol use. They  suggest that consuming one or two alcoholic beverages daily, including red wine, is linked to health benefits. However, in many of these studies, only the consumption of alcohol in general was looked at.  In other words, many studies failed to look at what type of alcoholic beverage was consumed. This makes it difficult to determine if the health benefits were from the alcohol content or another ingredient like the resveratrol in red wine. In these studies, benefits of mild to moderate alcohol consumption may include a decreased risk of heart attack, stroke and death. The risk of heart failure and diabetes may also be reduced. Some studies have shown that elderly men who consume up to one alcoholic beverage daily are more likely to maintain cognitive function into their 70s and 80s.

Should you take resveratrol supplements? The answer is not so clear. So far, evidence is preliminary. Health benefits of resveratrol have only been shown in mice, not humans. Other studies looking at human populations in general looked at alcohol consumption and did not look at resveratrol-containing beverages in particular. It is also important to keep in mind that even if there are health benefits associated with resveratrol, that the safety of nutritional supplements can be questionable at times. For example, there is also no way to know what other unlabeled ingredients the supplement may contain. This is due to the fact that supplements in the U.S. do not undergo the same stringent testing for safety and efficacy that other drugs do.  Before taking any new supplement, talk to your doctor and pharmacist to make sure it is safe to take with any health conditions you may have and won’t interact with any of your current medications. As an alternative, one could consider just drinking red wine. If you decide to take this route, keep in mind that it should be consumed in moderation. Heavy alcohol consumption has long been linked to liver problems and even some forms of cancer.

Author: Christi Larson, Pharm. D.

Dr. Larson is a Clinical Infusion Pharmacist, author of Empowered Medicine; A Guide for Consumers and creator of www.empoweredmedicine.com. You can read more about her by visiting www.EmpoweredMedicine.com and clicking on the 'About Us' tab.  EmpoweredMedicine.com is committed to providing evidence-based medical information.