Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Other Health Benefits

Many studies have been done on resveratrol which confirm its biological activity and potential health benefits. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant over three times as potent as vitamin C and over four and a half times more than vitamin E.⁸

How important are antioxidants?

Research published by the National Academy of Sciences documenting genetic mutations in a type of wormⁱ across the equivalent of 5000 years in terms of human life demonstrated that most of the DNA damage seen was due to free radicals, which antioxidants neutralize. The study is relevant to humans because we maintain our DNA in comparable ways.⁹

Excess free radicals and DNA damage are linked to many other diseases and conditions—everything from loss of vision (e.g., from age-related macular degeneration) to erectile dysfunction to wrinkles.^10-12 In addition to directly neutralizing excess free radicals, resveratrol and other antioxidants often stimulate the body’s own antioxidant molecules. For example, the potent antioxidants resveratrol and EGCG both induce Nrf2, an important protein in the body that regulates the production of innate antioxidants and detoxifying enzymes.¹³ Treatment of cells with resveratrol or EGCG stimulated NRF2, which protected against carcinogenic changes from exposure to arsenicⁱⁱ.¹³

Earlier research funded by Wellcome Trustⁱⁱⁱ showed that manipulating genes that neutralize excess free radicals on the same worm did not increase their lifespan, which suggested that oxidative damage has little to do with aging and disease.¹⁴ However, research conducted at major universities and affiliated cancer treatment centers (e.g., Harvard and Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Medical College) repeatedly demonstrate that antioxidants help prevent and counteract free radical damage—including the type that helps cause cancer.^15-16

Anti-inflammatory and immune system regulating benefits.

Research suggests these activities may be able to prevent or treat many chronic inflammatory illnesses such as acne and those typically associated with aging (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes).^17-19

In fact, resveratrol may even provide natural and effective pain relief for cancer patients and those suffering from:²⁰

• arthritis¹⁵
• diabetic neuropathy^21-22
• endometriosis²³
• inflammatory bowel disease²⁴