Resveratrol Facts

Resveratrol Risks and Side Effects

Since Resveratrol is not identified as an essential nutrient, there are no known adverse affects from Resveratrol deficiency. However, even though studies on Resveratrol are ongoing, are there risks and side effects known when it is utilized and if so, what are they?

In laboratory studies, the benefits of Resveratrol are numerous. It has been shown to assist in proper blood and cell activity; it hinders the effects of damaging free-radicals and can enhance heart and liver function. But what is the data available right now, regarding any risks or negative side effects?

The good news is that there have actually been no known negative side effects proven from the use of Resveratrol and furthermore, no extensive drug interactions either – although there are recommendations for prevention. And because red wine has been widely publicized as the best source of Resveratrol, one logical, known negative effect could be an accidental one involving the over-indulgence of alcohol.

Keep in mind that the extensive amount of research that has been performed with the use of Resveratrol has been done in laboratory testing on animals, not humans. However, it has not been shown to result in any negative side affects in those animals, and overall, Resveratrol is not known to be toxic, nor has it been associated with causing adverse side effects in humans either. However, with any supplemental or medicinal ingestion, especially a newer type, there is always the possibility of risk.

Since Resveratrol has been recognized as having a chemical make-up similar to that of synthetic estrogen and will produce comparable results, just as with any drug or supplement, too much of a good thing, can be bad. If you are presently taking a doctor-prescribed or over-the-counter estrogen supplement, you will want to avoid ingesting Resveratrol on top of it for this reason.

Pregnant or lactating women are recommended to avoid the intake of Resveratrol until further studies are performed and its affects can be precisely evaluated and established.

It is suggested also that individuals taking anti-coagulant, anti-platelet and certain anti-inflammatory drugs avoid the use of Resveratrol because high intakes could increase the risk of bleeding as a result of that interaction. Other drug interaction that is not recommended includes HIV inhibitors, immunosuppressants, antihistamines as well as drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.

Until there is more human-related testing done and positive evidence resulting from that research, the best recommendation is to avoid the use of Resveratrol if you fall under any of these circumstances or are using any of the other types of drugs mentioned here. You can always consult your personal physician before starting a new supplement routine as well. The bottom line is that it is better to be safe than sorry.