Resveratrol, a natural antioxidant found in wine and grapes, has been widely hailed for its potential to boost heart health and longevity. But which resveratrol supplements are the best, most effective, and budget-friendly?
A new review published by ConsumerLab.com — a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition — aims to answer those questions by ranking the best available supplements on the market.
The organization’s Resveratrol Supplements Review rates 19 products evaluated by the group.
Among the findings:
• All but one product contained the listed amount of resveratrol.
• Nearly all had consistently high quality.
• Supplement costs varied wildly, with some providing 100 mg of resveratrol for 10 cents or less, and others fetching as much as $1.50 for that dosage.
Based on the organization’s research findings, the review’s authors identified three products as “Top Picks.”
• ShopRite Resveratrol, which provides 100 mg of resveratrol per soft gel for 10 cents. Although this product was not the cheapest product overall, it ranked number one because it’s an easy to take single-ingredient product “It is often best to stick with single-ingredient supplements so you can judge the effects and potential side effects of an ingredient,” the authors stated.
• Bulk Supplements.com Resveratrol, a loose-product powder that provides 100 mg of resveratrol for 9 cents. Although this, too, is a single-ingredient product, the author ranked it number two because it must be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place and each dose must be carefully measured.
• Trunature Resveratrol Plus (Costco), which provides 100 mg of resveratrol for 6 cents. It ranked number three because it also contains a modest amount of green tea extract (25 mg of EGCG, about the same amount found in one cup of tea.)
Other products on ConsumerLab’s “approved” list included Country Life Resveratrol Plus, Doctor’s Best Best trans-Resveratrol 100, Dr. Whitaker Triveratrol Gold, Finest Nutrition (Walgreens) Resveratrol, Life Extension Optimized Resveratrol, Longevinex, Pure Encapsulations Resveratrol VESlsorb, Puritan’s Pride Resveratrol, Puritan’s Pride Resveratrol 250 mg Plus Red Wine, Resvinatrol Complete, ResVitále Resveratrol, Solgar Resveratrol, Spring Valley (Walmart} Resveratrol, Vitacost Trans-Resveratrol, Vitamin Shoppe Reservie Trans-Resveratrol, Vitamin World Youth Guard Resveratrol, and Vitamin World Youth Guard Resveratrol 250 mg Plus Red Wine.
ConsumerLab’s researchers noted that resveratrol is a plant chemical found in red grape skins, grape seeds, purple grape juice, and red wine. Some researchers believe that high consumption of grape products may be partly responsible for the “French paradox” — the low rate of heart disease among the French despite an extremely high intake of rich, fatty foods.
More than $40 million worth of resveratrol-containing supplements are purchased in the U.S. each year, according to Nutrition Business Journal.
Although grape products are the most significant dietary source of resveratrol, most supplements contain resveratrol extracted from the Japanese knotweed plant.
Resveratrol supplements have been popular since 2006, when studies in animals showed “life-extending” and “endurance-enhancing” effects, among other potential benefits.
Although such dramatic effects have not been demonstrated in people, other potential uses are being explored relating to age-related macular degeneration, cardiovascular health, diabetes, and memory.
In releasing its findings, ConsumerLab called for more research into the health benefits of resveratrol. They also summarized recent clinical evidence for resveratrol as well as potential side effects and drug interactions.
“Current research in animals as well as people suggests that the initial excitement about resveratrol as a life-extending supplement was exaggerated, as this benefit may be limited to those with Type 2 diabetes or other insulin insensitivity (often associated with obesity,” the authors stated.
The best preliminary evidence suggests that resveratrol supplements may be helpful for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an incurable eye condition that affects up to 11 million Americans. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people over age 60.
So far, the optimal dose of resveratrol has not been established. Manufacturers of the products tested by ConsumerLab.com recommend daily servings that range from as low as 50 mg to as high as 1,000 mg. A typical daily dose is 150 mg.
No serious side effects have been observed in short-term resveratrol studies of healthy volunteers. But the long-term safety of resveratrol supplementation has not been evaluated.
Because resveratrol has some estrogenic activity, it should not be used by women with estrogen-sensitive conditions, including some cancers.
Since it may have some anti-growth factors, it should not be used by children, or by women who are trying to get pregnant, are pregnant, or nursing.
It also has blood-thinning effects, so anyone taking blood thinners such as warfarin is strongly advised to consult with a doctor before taking it.