Does taking resveratrol make sense as an anti-ageing strategy?

Resveratrol is a substance that occurs naturally in grape skins and red wine. In laboratory research using yeast, worms and other simple organisms, resveratrol extends lifespan by an average of 30 to 60 percent relative to the maximum observed in those models. That sounds impressive, but these results come from organisms with a completely different biology from humans, and the leap to human applicability has not yet been demonstrated.

The proposed mechanism runs via so-called sirtuins and autophagy: biological clean-up and repair processes in cells that also play a role in human ageing. In animal models, resveratrol activates these mechanisms repeatedly and reliably. Researchers are also studying the substance as a so-called calorie restriction mimetic, an agent that would replicate the beneficial effects of eating less without actually having to eat less. Whether this works the same way in humans remains unknown.

In mice, resveratrol shows favourable effects on heart function, cholesterol and inflammatory markers. But there is a crucial caveat: improved biomarkers are not the same as living longer. Despite those improved values, mice given resveratrol did not actually live longer. This undermines a large part of the enthusiasm surrounding this substance.

In humans, the research is limited and largely based on animal and laboratory studies. A potentially protective effect has been described for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and brain disorders, but on the basis of the available human studies no firm conclusions can yet be drawn.

No specific data on the safety of long-term use of resveratrol supplements in humans are available in the sources consulted. Side effects or risks of chronic use are not discussed. That does not mean it is safe, but simply that there are insufficient data to say anything meaningful on the matter. Caution is warranted.