There are a ton of drugs and supplements available to help diabetics control their blood sugar levels. How do you proceed? What is trustworthy information that has been validated by empirical research? What is merely hyped-up information on the internet?
Resveratrol is not a recognized, controlled substance that is prescribed. It is a polyphenol chemical found in red grape skin that is used as a dietary supplement. Supplements containing resveratrol also include extracts from Polygonum cuspidatum, a plant that grows knotweed in China and Japan, in addition to red grape skin or extract.
Some red wine varietals have a higher resveratrol content than others. For instance, merlot and pinot noir have greater (0.5 mg versus 0.2 mg) per 5-ounce glass than cabernet sauvignon. Surprisingly, peanuts and certain berries also contain resveratrol. Foods and wine contain much less resveratrol than supplements available over-the-counter (1–500 mg).
The Assertions
There are countless claims made, ranging from healthier living to weight loss and all in between. The prevention and treatment of cancer, heart illness, and neurological disorders are the topics of claims.
The two main benefits of resveratrol supplementation for diabetes are better glycemic control and prevention of insulin resistance. Remember that reducing insulin resistance is similar to preventing the onset of diabetes. not always managing diabetes.
Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene) contains antioxidant compounds that are members of the stilbenes polyphenol class. When it was discovered that red wine was linked to a lower incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disorders in the 1990s—specifically in regard to the “French Paradox”—resveratrol’s profile started to rise.
The French Paradox is a paradox that explains why those who follow a traditional French diet that is rich in saturated fat and moderate in red wine have a low incidence of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders.
The Study
Positive news: studies on the impact of resveratrol on diabetes are currently underway.
The bad news is that over 8600 published studies on resveratrol were found through a PubMed search, of which over 580 discussed its potential link to diabetes (only 250 involving human participants). Here then are some highlights from the research.
- In type-II diabetes patients taking resveratrol, an Australian study that was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed no change in glycemic control, body weight, calorie intake, or stomach emptying. For five weeks, these patients received 500 mg of resveratrol twice a day; they were not taking diabetes medication 1. The individuals’ mean baseline HbA1c was 6.4%.
- A meta-analysis examining the impact of resveratrol on many laboratory indicators in individuals with diabetes mellitus demonstrated improvements in HbA1c, creatinine, and blood pressure. But there were no changes in insulin resistance, fasting glucose, insulin, or any of the blood lipids (triglycerides, LDL, HDL, and cholesterol).
- An Indian study found that when type-II diabetes patients received 250 mg of resveratrol twice day for three months, their HbA1c, total cholesterol, and blood pressure improved. LDL 3, HDL, or body weight were unaffected. Unlike the Australian study previously mentioned, these patients had a significantly higher baseline HbA1c value (Mean: 9.99%) and received the resveratrol supplement for a longer duration.
- Patients with type II diabetes were given resveratrol-enriched grape extract supplements for a year as part of a Spanish study. Despite the presence of clinical indicators of HbA1c, glucose, lipids, or body weight, intriguing anti-inflammatory benefits were observed. Supplementing with resveratrol resulted in a down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are cell signalers that exacerbate inflammation.
In summary, the current body of evidence is contradictory and lacking in clarity.
Read Also: Is Chromium Beneficial for Diabetes?
Adverse Reactions
No known serious or detrimental adverse effects have been reported. Human participants ingesting more than 1 gram of resveratrol daily for up to 29 days straight experienced mild gastrointestinal problems, including nausea, abdominal pain, flatulence, and diarrhea.
Interactions Between Drugs
The hepatic metabolic route that resveratrol travels through may induce interactions with specific prescription drug classes. This hasn’t, however, been thoroughly investigated. Resveratrol and anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs may interact, however this is only supported by experimental data and not clinical research. There are no known interactions between resveratrol and food, nutrients, or other plants.
Some drugs in the following drug categories may interact with resveratrol, however not all drugs in each category will:
- Reductase inhibitors of HMG-CoA
- antagonists of calcium channels
- anti-arrhythmic medications
- Protease inhibitors for HIV
- immunosuppressive drugs
- antihistamines
- Benzodiazepines
- medications for erectile dysfunction
Regulation
According to the federal Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, botanical supplements are classified as “dietary supplements.” In the US, there is no mandate for dietary supplement standardization. As a result, you cannot be certain of what you are getting when you buy a supplement bottle or capsule as a consumer.
The Food and Drug Administration created Good Manufacturing Practices in 2007 in an effort to raise the standard and enhance the quality of supplements that were sold. It can be very challenging to tell whether or not a supplement maker uses high-quality manufacturing processes just by looking at the label.
Furthermore, federal law does not mandate that supplements undergo safety or efficacy testing prior to being marketed. In summary, buyer beware.
To Find Out More
The Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institute of Health (https://ods.od.nih.gov/) is where you may access federal government-level information even though the Food and Drug Administration does not oversee the dietary supplement sector.
It’s an excellent starting point for data collection, especially with their Fact Sheets. Regretfully, the Office of Dietary Supplement’s webpages did not reference resveratrol at the time this article was written.
Do you have any more questions or have you utilized resveratrol? Tell me, and I’ll get in touch with you. Tell us about your experiences with resveratrol and your reaction to it here.
DiabetesCouncils Article | Reviewed by Dr. Sergii Vasyliuk MD on June 05, 2020
Citations
- Thazhath SS et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Jan; 103(1):66-70.
- Hausenblas HA et al. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2015 Jan; 59(1):147-59.
- Bhatt JK et al. Nutr Res. 2012 Jul; 32(7):537-41.
- Tomé-Carneiro J et al. Pharmacol Res. 2013 Jun; 72:69-82.
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