Overview
Resveratrol is a buzz-heavy plant extract that has been the subject of several highly publicized medical studies and that has been included in numerous new skin care, diet, and general health supplements. The Resveratrol used in these products is often synthetically produced, as opposed to extracted from plants. The reason Resveratrol was the subject of so much media attention is that, in recently released studies on lab mice and rats, it was shown to positively affect everything from cancer probably to the cardiovascular system to weight loss to skin tone. Another reason for all of the attention is that Resveratrol is also found in the skin of red grapes, meaning that some Resveratrol also makes its way into red wine.
As with any ingredient that becomes this trendy this fast, it’s worth pointing out a few cautions about Resveratrol. The main issue that many scientists take with the highly publicized clinical trials is that they were all carried out on rats and mice, meaning that there is no indicator at present to show how humans might fare if undertaking a concentrated Resveratrol regimen. Second, many of the products that tout the inclusion of Resveratrol, such as ResV do not seem to be very heavily regulated at all. Claims made about these products are very wide-ranging, and include everything from the lowering of the user’s blood pressure to an improvement in the cardiovascular system.
Product Details
Resveratrol has been the subject of several studies since 2003, but it seems as if only one used human subjects and this was related to athletic performance. Results have usually been positive, but also inconclusive. Resveratrol has also been linked in one study to breast cancer in women. Trying to sift through various pieces of trial data can be very difficult, suggesting that results are positive but still highly inconclusive. It seems to us that products like ResV that were quick to rush Resveratrol to market may have been jumping the gun. This is further suggested by the sweeping claims made by products such as ResV, which promise to affect everything from life expectancy to weight loss. We would wait for more concrete study info before committing to a wrinkle fighting regimen consisting of any product that features Resveratrol as a main active ingredient.
The Good
- Resveratrol has shown some promise of increasing life expectancy in several lab trials.
- Resveratrol is available in red wine, as well as in several new supplements on the market.
The Bad
- Nearly all of the studies indicating the benefits of Resveratrol were conducted on mice and rats, not humans.
- There is still a lot of research to be done before anyone can say anything conclusive about Resveratrol.
- It is difficult to determine the manufacturer responsible for leading Resveratrol-based diet supplements like RezV.
- Resveratrol may also be connected to breast cancer in women, but again studies are highly inconclusive at this time.
The Bottom Line
Resveratrol is definitely an exciting development for several medical fields. However, it seems to us that it’s still to early to say anything conclusive about it one way or another. We’d wait for the results of more clinical trials before committing to a Resveratrol-based skin care regimen, and instead use a peptide-based cream that has been proven to stimulate collagen production when it comes to skin care.
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