Resveratrol is a stilbenoid produced by certain plants in response to injury. Dietary sources include the skins of grapes, as well as blueberries, raspberries, and mulberries. Chemically, resveratrol is a natural phenol and a phytoalexin, meaning it has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that help protect the plant.
Resveratrol has also been studied for potential human health benefits. Research presented at a scientific meeting of the American Heart Association in Minneapolis on May 4, 2017 examined the effects of resveratrol supplementation on arterial stiffness in patients with type 2 diabetes. The researchers reported that resveratrol supplementation was associated with reductions in arterial stiffness—an indicator of atherosclerosis—which may translate into lower cardiovascular risk.
According to lead investigator Naomi Hamburg, chief of the vascular biology section at Boston University School of Medicine, the greatest benefit was observed in individuals with higher baseline arterial stiffness. She emphasized that while it was too early to recommend resveratrol for preventing heart attacks or strokes, the findings were promising and warranted further investigation.
Additional support for resveratrol’s metabolic effects comes from research published in Nutrition Research (July 2012; Volume 32, Issue 7, Pages 537–541). This study involved 62 patients with type 2 diabetes. The control group continued standard glucose-lowering medication, while the intervention group received the same medication plus 250 mg per day of resveratrol for three months.
At baseline and after three months, researchers measured hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, lipid profiles (HDL, LDL, triglycerides), urea nitrogen, creatinine, and total protein. Compared with controls, the resveratrol-supplemented group showed improvements in hemoglobin A1c, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and total protein. No significant changes were observed in body weight or HDL and LDL cholesterol levels.
The authors concluded that oral resveratrol supplementation was associated with improved blood sugar control and suggested that it may serve as a potential adjunct to conventional management strategies for type 2 diabetes.
