Resveratrol Shown to Lower Markers of Inflammation, Reduce Risk of CVD

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

Do you have a glass of wine with dinner because of the heart health benefits of resveratrol? If so, you may be on the right track. A study has been released that suggests resveratrol in combination with statins could reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The researchers for this study were based at the Research Group on Quality, Safety, and Bioactivity of Plant Foods in Spain. Their results were published online ahead of print on April 19, 2012, in The American Journal of Cardiology.

75 participants were recruited for the triple-blinded, randomized, parallel, dose-response, placebo-controlled, follow-up study. All of the participants were at high risk of CVD and taking statins.

They were placed into one of three intervention groups: a placebo, a grape supplement enriched with 8 mg of resveratrol, and a grape supplement without resveratrol enrichment. The initial intervention lasted for 6 months and then the participants took double the initial dosage for another 6 months.

At the end of the study, only the resveratrol enriched supplement group showed reduced levels of C-reactive protein (26%), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (19.8%), and lasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (16.8%), all markers of inflammation. The enriched group also showed a 20% increase of the anti-inflammatory interleukin-10.

Resveratrol has been the subject of a number of studies recently that have shown it to be a powerful antioxidant with health benefits that include increasing energy levels, lowering cholesterol, better brain health, reducing the appearance of aging, lower risk of lung cancer, improving metabolism, regulating blood glucose levels in diabetics and improved liver function.

This powerful antioxidant can be found in red wine, grapes, grape seed extract, and peanuts. A glass of red wine a day can provide a good amount of resveratrol, but excess drinking will reverse the positive health benefits. Another good way to get resveratrol is through a high quality supplement