Resveratrol for Antioxidant Protection

Caveats

In vitro antioxidant potency has a poor record of predicting human benefit - beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C supplementation showed no benefit and in some cases harm in large trials. More specifically here, two controlled trials found resveratrol blunted the training-induced improvements in blood pressure, lipids and aerobic capacity in older and younger men, consistent with the broader finding that high-dose antioxidants can interfere with exercise adaptation - so if you train, this is a reason to avoid it. Safety of resveratrol: up to 1,000 mg/day is tolerated short term, gastrointestinal effects become common above that, and a myeloma trial at 5 g/day was terminated after renal failure cases. It inhibits CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and CYP1A2, raising levels of many drugs including statins, calcium channel blockers and ciclosporin, and has antiplatelet activity - avoid with warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants, aspirin and antiplatelet drugs, and stop two weeks before surgery. Oestrogenic activity means caution with hormone-sensitive cancer. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. A diet rich in vegetables, fruit, nuts and whole grains has the evidence isolated antioxidants lack.