Resveratrol Side Effects - Do They Outweigh the Anti-Inflammatory, Antibacterial Benefits?
By Mo Devine

Resveratrol side effects are as yet unknown. Some people experience diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. It is the effect of long-term use that worries some scientists.

Because it was newsworthy, reports about the antioxidant hit the media and people began searching for supplements containing it. The supplement industry responded and began providing them, even though none of the purported health benefits were proven, and some of them were challenged by other research groups at later dates.

There is often a difference of opinion among researchers, and the results of scientific studies are rarely identical. The biggest variable in these studies is people. What the volunteers do outside of the study parameters is often unknown unless they are confined to a hospital and fed the same food for the duration of the study.

Alternative or holistic practitioners would never prescribe a drug or supplement without first reviewing the patient's lifestyle and dietary habits. They would counsel them about things that might need to be changed. If the patient refused to take their advice, the practitioner would likely refuse to treat them. It's difficult to say what the resveratrol side effects might be, because there have been no clinical trials to date that measured them. One small study found that there were no "serious" adverse reactions in volunteers who took a single dose of 5000mg. Nausea and stomach upset are not considered "serious" adverse reactions. Diarrhea and vomiting, however, could lead to dehydration, which can be serious.

If you are thinking about trying the supplement because of the possible health benefits, the best suggestion is to start with a low dose or choose a multi-nutritional supplement that contains it. Some of the better "anti-aging" supplements contain 50mg or less; that's enough to provide the antioxidant benefits without causing any unwanted reactions.

The long term resveratrol side effects that some researchers are concerned about have to do with its molecular structure. It is similar to a phytoestrogen, a plant hormone closely related to human estradiol or estrogen. Some forms of cancer are estrogen-sensitive. In laboratory studies, estrogen sensitive breast cancer cell lines grow and replicate when they are exposed to the hormone. But, researchers have looked at phytoestrogens in the past and found that they do not have the same effect as regular estrogen or estradiol. It's interesting to note that the researchers who worry about resveratrol side effects, due to its structure being similar to a phytoestrogen, are the same ones who would say synthetic compounds having estrogenic activity are safe.

It's not all a matter of opinion in the scientific world. But the way that the scientists look at things does vary greatly and often makes a difference in the conclusions they report. The bottom line is this: Because of its antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and natural anti-inflammatory activity, as well as other activities, it is a good ingredient to include in your daily healthcare regimen. As long as you take a low dose, ideally combined with other nutritional ingredients, you should not experience any short or long term resveratrol side effects.

Mo Devine is a consumer advocate and a dedicated researcher who has been on a quest to find the best nutritional supplements available. After extensive research, she has found an exceptional nutritional supplement that is now the foundation of her own health program. Visit her website at http://healthysupplementsforlife.info/ to discover what she personally recommends and why.

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