What is resveratrol?

Cancers treated or prevented:
Leukemia, prostate cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, skin cancer

Delivery routes: Oral via food and dietary supplements; significant food sources include red grapes, red wines, red and purple grape juice, berries (including raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and bilberries), peanuts, and peanut butter

How this substance works: Resveratrol is a stilbene compound manufactured by plants as a defense mechanism against diseases. It is primarily found in red grape skins, and laboratory experiments find that it functions as an antioxidant against cell-damaging free radicals. It has also been found to prevent some cancers, slow or halt the stages of cancer progression and metastasis, decrease inflammation and heart disease, and extend life span. Its chemical structure is very similar to estrogen, and it is considered a phytoestrogen compound. While it has shown some promise in preventing estrogen-sensitive cancers, one study found that it actually stimulated the growth of breast cancer cells. While only a small number of studies have tested resveratrol in humans, initial results show that the body rapidly metabolizes it. Thus, blood levels of resveratrol may not reach the protective levels that have been observed in the lab setting and it may only provide limited health benefits to humans. Recommended doses for resveratrol have yet to be determined.

Side effects: Caution is advised for individuals with food allergies or sensitivities to resveratrol-containing foods. There have been no reported side effects or drug interactions, but women with a history of estrogen-sensitive cancers are advised to avoid resveratrol dietary supplements because of its estrogen-like chemical structure. Individuals taking anticoagulant, antiplatelet, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should also avoid dietary supplements, as high doses of resveratrol may increase the risk of bleeding. Unsafe intake of alcohol should be avoided, as it may increase cancer risk as well as other health risks.

Bibliography

Cho, William C. S. Cancer Chemoprevention and Treatment by Diet Therapy. New York: Springer, 2013. Print.

Patel, Ketan R., et al. "Sulfate Metabolites Provide and Intracellular Pool for Resveratrol Generation and Induce Autophagy with Senescence." Science Translational Medicine 5.205 (2013): 133+. Print.

Patel, Ketan R., Edwina Scott, Victoria A. Brown, Andreas J. Gescher, William P. Steward, and Karen Brown. "Clinical Trials of Resveratrol." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1215.1 (2011): 161–69. Print.

Shankar, Sharmila, and Rakesh K. Srivastava. Nutrition, Diet and Cancer. New York: Springer, 2012. Print.

Subramanian, Lalita, et al. "Resveratrol: Challenges in Translation to the Clinic—A Critical Discussion." Clinical Cancer Research 16.24 (2010): 5942–948. Print.