Health Benefits of Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant,  having anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, glucose and lipid regulatory, neuroprotective, and cardiovascular protective effects, therefore, can protect against diverse chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, liver diseases, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. 

Antioxidative Activities

Resveratrol has shown strong antioxidant properties in many studies. Resveratrol protects against oxidative stress, one of the primary contributors to many diseases.

Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Resveratrol has been illustrated to have potent anti-inflammatory activities in many studies. Resveratrol protected from inflammation not only by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), but also by inducing anti-inflammatory heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Immunomodulating Effects

Resveratrol has exerted immunomodulating effects in various studies. Resveratrol modulates immune response against pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and some toxic materials. In short, resveratrol could modulate both cellular and humoral immunity to reduce replication and the viability of pathogens, and bidirectionally regulate the related cytokine/chemokine production through the canonical immune response pathways.

Cardiovascular Diseases

Resveratrol has been reported to protect against CVDs in certain research. Resveratrol prevented the pathological progression of hypertension, a major risk factor of CVDs, through Nrf2 activation, owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity.

Cancers

Resveratrol has shown its anticancer bioactivities by impairing glycolysis, inhibiting cancer cell growth and proliferation, inducing apoptosis, promoting antitumor immune responses, and preventing adhesion, migration and invasion of cancer cells by modulating related molecules and gene expression through various signaling pathways. 

Liver Diseases

Resveratrol has shown its protective impacts on several liver diseases in some studies. Specifically, resveratrol alleviated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Besides NAFLD,  resveratrol could improve chemical-induced liver injuries, fibrosis, and cirrhosis by modulating redox status, regulating lipid metabolism, ameliorating inflammation, and inducing autophagy with various cytokines, chemokines, and transcription factors involved.

Diabetes

Many studies have shown that resveratrol could effectively regulate glucose metabolism, improve insulin resistance, improve diabetic complications, and restore the function of multiple systems via modulating SIRT1/NF-κB/AMPK signaling pathways and some associated molecules like NALP3 inflammasome, as well as the expressions of relevant genes.

Obesity

Resveratrol also showed positive impacts on obesity-related complications, such as reproductive dysfunction like infertility and endocrine disorders. Moreover, resveratrol has shown to decrease body weight, regulate lipid deposition, modulate adipocyte gene expression, and promote white adipose browning.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are neurodegenerative disorders, seriously decreasing life quality, many studies have shown that  resveratrol may have the potential to improve these diseases. 

Food Sources of Resveratrol

Resveratrol occurs naturally in some plant foods. You can add resveratrol to your diet by eating foods like peanuts, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and mulberries. Red wine is also a good source of resveratrol. You can also take resveratrol in supplement form.