There are numerous human clinical trials, and studies by the National Institute of Environmental Health, and even animal studies to prove it. Of course, companies that sell a low-dosage  ( 50 – 200 mg of Resveratrol) — will try to convince you otherwise. Those companies will tell you that you either don’t need more quantity. They may even tell you that their resveratrol is “more potent”. This just doesn’t make sense.

In 2002, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences commissioned a report entitled, “Trans-resveratrol Review of Toxicological Literature.”  A review of more than 200 referenced scientific studies were included, and the report stated that there were no reported adverse effects from Resveratrol on humans.

Animal studies have used the human-equivalent of over 1,000 mg (10 mg/kg of bodyweight) of Resveratrol, and have shown no toxic effects. Massive dosage studies were also performed on animals. “The no observed adverse affect level (NOAEL) was 300 mg/kg/day,” which would be a human equivalent dosage of 30,000 mg or 10 – 100 times the maximum concentrations contained in human high-concentration oral nutraceutical dosages, such as in Vinomis’ Vindure 900 and others.

Human studies also confirm the safety and effectiveness of Resveratrol in highly concentrated forms. Studies including those at Marywood University, University of Leicester (UK) and University of Michigan, etc. all found no significant side effects and no evidence of toxicity

In 2006, Xenomis conducted a study on humans with Dr. James Smoliga of Marywood University (2006) using the formulation:

• 400 mg of 98% pure Resveratrol
• 400 mg Red Wine Grape extract
• 100 mg Quercetin

The Smoliga study showed no side-effects, and significant improvements in energy level, strength, endurance, and verbal memory. A second study is underway with 400 mg of Naturex red-wine grape extract.

World Renowned Professors Speak

We recently posed this question of Resveratrol Dosage to two(2) world-renowned Professors at Marywood University and the University of Pennsylvania who have been doing research on Resveratrol for over 7 years. Here are their email responses.

Dr. Smoliga:

“I beleve there are one or two articles examining the pharmacokinetics of it [dosage] (combined with safety) which found it to be safe in up to 5g [5,000 mg] doses, I believe.  It appears that with dosages in the 400 mg range, it reaches a peak and then subsides, whereas in the 1g (1,000 mg) or more range, higher blood concentrations are maintained.  However, I believe it is not yet certain whether which would be more advantageous – to have a rise in fall in resveratrol concentration or a steady level of resveratrol.  Based on some of the physiology, I would think a rise and fall mechanism would actuallly be more beneficial, and if this is the case the 400mg dosage should work quite nicely.”

[Note that Vindure 900 contains 400 mg of trans-Resveratrol, and 400 mg of Red Wine Grape extract]

Dr. Baur:

“I have attached one of the clinical trials Dr. S mentioned.  Sirtris also went up to 5g [5,000 mg] of their “SRT501″ formulation without any ill effects:”

http://www.drugs.com/clinical_trials/sirtris-announces-positive-results-proprietary-version-resveratrol-srt501-phase-1b-type-2-diabetes-3127.html

“We used ~5-30 mg/kg in our mice, and Johan Auwerx used 200-400 mg/kg.  If you subscribe to the “allometric scaling” by body surface area method, you divide by 12 to go from mouse to human, yielding ~150 mg or ~2g [2,000 mg] as the respective human-equivalent doses.  But since other polyphenols may have an additive or synergistic effect, I think it’s quite likely that Vindure is delivering the effect of a 2g [2,000 mg] dose of pure resveratrol.”

***Whatever you buy, make sure to read the product Supplement Facts. It’s the only way to be sure what you’re getting. If you can’t find them on the company’s website, I sincerely recommend not buying that supplement. Here are the Vindure 900 Supplement Facts

Joseph Maroon, MD

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Bottom Line Heath, September 2009

The Simple Supplement that

May Prevent Killer Diseases

All about resveratrol

When it comes to “hot” supplements, resveratrol is high on the list. Multiple studies conducted on laboratory animals have demonstrated the highly beneficial effects on this polyphenol (a class of plant chemicals), which is found most abundantly in the skins of grapes and in red wine – and now is available in supplement form.

Key animal findings: Resveratrol has been shown not only to enhance muscle strength and reduce fatigue, but also to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer … clear away the toxic proteins that cause Alzheimer’s disease … and even lengthen life span by 25%.

But can this substance do the same for humans?

AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY

Resveratrol’s emergence as an anti-aging and disease-fighting powerhouse began in the 1930s with a seemingly unrelated finding – that sever calorie restriction extended the lives of rodents by 40 to 50%.

It wasn’t until the 1990s, however, that researchers from Harvard Medical School discovered the genetic basis for the beneficial effect of calorie restriction. Through various experiments in animal studies, calorie restriction was shown to trigger a kind of chain reaction that activates “survival genes” (sirtuins), which, in turn, energize an enzyme (SIR2) that stabilizes DNA. This process slows cellular aging.

In further studies, researchers discovered that resveratrol is one of the most potent sources of the molecules that activate these survival genes.

CURRENT EVIDENCE

To further test resveratrol’s benefits, researchers conducted other animal studies – this time without calorie restriction. Resveratrol and other polyphenols were found to increase the life span of fish by 60% … worms and flies by 30% … and mice by 25% — benefits attributed to improved cellular health.

Resveratrol-enhanced cells are believed to help fight …

Hearth disease and stroke. Resveratrol appears to decrease harmful inflammation, which contributes to cardiovascular disease.

Breakthrough research: A human study showed that drinking one-and-a-half glasses of red wine a day lowered, by 40%, level of lipid peroxide, a by-product of inflammation that damages arteries. This and other health benefits are believed to be due to resveratrol and several other polyphenols in red wine.

Through various animal studies, resveratrol was shown to spark the production of the beneficial gas nitric oxide, which gives blood vessels more flexibility. Resveratrol also thins the blood, reducing the risk for artery-clogging clot. In studies of animals with induced heart attacks, those given resveratrol had a significantly lower fatality rate. In similar studies on stroke, resveratrol prevented paralysis and limited brain injury in animals.

Cancer. Eighteen different types of cancer – including lung, colon, skin, liver, and pancreatic – have been markedly inhibited by resveratrol in laboratory studies using both animal and human cells.

Diabetes. In animals, resveratrol helps normalize blood sugar (glucose) levels by moving glucose out of the bloodstream into cells. Laboratory research also shows that resveratrol reduces diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain that often occurs in the legs and feet).

New finding: In human study, a synthetic, resveratrol-like compound was shown to give people the same type of glucose control that resveratrol gives mice.

Alzheimer’s disease: In animal studies, resveratrol helps remove the amyloid-beta protein that causes the brain damage associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

New finding: In a study of 90 healthy people, researchers at Marywood University in Scranton found that a supplement containing resveratrol and other polyphenols improved memory and sped up reaction time.

RESVERATROL SOURCES

Even though the preliminary research is promising, there is a caveat. You would have to drink up to 1,150 bottles of red wine daily to get the amount of resveratrol used in most animal studies.

Since that’s not feasible, I recommend a more practical approach that includes two things – a regular diet of resveratrol and polyphenol-rich foods (the resveratrol is far lower than the doses used in animal studies, but these foods contain other beneficial compounds that may enhanced absorption of resveratrol from food and/or supplements) … and the use of a mixed polyphenol supplement or a resveratrol supplement.

That synergy – along with regular exercise and a lifestyle that includes the heath-promoting effects of close emotional ties with family and friends – is your best bet for fighting chronic disease and living longer. My advice …

Eat a polyphenol-rich diet. Resveratrol is the superstar of polyphenols, but many scientists think that a combination of polyphenols – ingesting them together, as they are found in nature – is the best way to activate survival genes.

The foods richest in resveratrol and a variety of other polyphenols …

Red wine or red grape juice. These are the top dietary sources of resveratrol. Important: Wine grapes with the most resveratrol include pinot noir, merlot, Grenache, cabernet sauvignon and tempranillo. (These wines also deliver up to about 500 different polyphenols along with resveratrol.) Suggested daily intake: Four to 16 ounces of red grape juice daily (be mindful of the sugar content). Up to 12 ounces of red wine daily for men … and no more than six ounces daily for women (the potential health benefit of daily wine consumption by women must be weighed against a possible increase in breast cancer risk).

Pomegranate juice. It is a good source of resveratrol and many other antioxidants. Suggested daily intake:  Three to five ounces.

Dark chocolate. It is a rich source of concentrated flavonols, a potent type of polyphenol. Select unsweetened or semi-sweetened varieties with at least 70% cocoa. Suggested inake: One bite-sized square.

Green tea. Green tea contains resveratrol and is rich in epigallo-catechin gallate (EGCG) and other polyphenols. Suggested daily intake: Three eight-ounce cups. Decaffeinated green tea contains EGCG but relatively little resveratrol.

Blueberries. They are rich in procyanidins and other polyphenols. Suggested daily intake: At least one cup (fresh or frozen).

Take a mixed-polyphenol supplement. I recommend the mixed polyphenol supplement Vindure 900, a product developed by Vinomis Laboratories based on Harvard University research. Vindure is available from Vinomis Laboratories (877-484-6664, www.vinomis.com). Cost: $40 for 30 tablets. Follow the dosage recommendation on the label.

Because resveratrol absorption is though to be enhanced when combined with other natural polyphenols, a mixed-polyphenol supplement is best.

However, an alternative is to …

Take a resveratrol supplement. There are more than 300 resveratrol-containing products now available. The best products are made with trans-resveratrol (the active form of the substance shown by professional testing to activate the sirtuin “survival genes”) … and produced by manufacturers who comply with “Good Manufacturing Practices” (GMP), which ensures that the product contains no major contaminants.

My favorite resveratrol products are manufactured by …

Longevinex, www.longevinex.com, 866-405-4000 … 30 capsules for $37.

RevGenetics, at www.myrevgenetics.com, 888-738-4363 … 30 capsules for $43.

Suggested intake for most resveratrol supplements: 250 mg to 500 mg daily.

Bottom Line/Health interviewed Joseph Maroon, MD a professor of neurological surgery and Heindl Scholar in Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is the author of The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes for a Longer and Healthier Life (Atria). www.josephmaroon.com.  

We recently posed this question of Resveratrol Dosage to 2 world-renowned Professors at Marywood University and the University of Pennsylvania who have been doing research on Resveratrol for over 7 years. In this Blog Post (below), I’ll refer to them Dr. S and Dr. B, as they do not wish to be seen as endorsing any products. Here are their email responses to me.

Dr. S:

“I beleve there are one or two articles examining the pharmacokinetics of it [dosage] (combined with safety) which found it to be safe in up to 5g [5,000 mg] doses, I believe.  It appears that with dosages in the 400 mg range, it reaches a peak and then subsides, whereas in the 1g (1,000 mg) or more range, higher blood concentrations are maintained.  However, I believe it is not yet certain whether which would be more advantageous – to have a rise in fall in resveratrol concentration or a steady level of resveratrol.  Based on some of the physiology, I would think a rise and fall mechanism would actuallly be more beneficial, and if this is the case the 400mg dosage should work quite nicely.”

[Note that Vindure 900 contains 400 mg of trans-Resveratrol, and 400 mg of Red Wine Grape extract]

Dr. B:

“I have attached one of the clinical trials Dr. S mentioned.  Sirtris also went up to 5g [5,000 mg] of their “SRT501″ formulation without any ill effects:”

http://www.drugs.com/clinical_trials/sirtris-announces-positive-results-proprietary-version-resveratrol-srt501-phase-1b-type-2-diabetes-3127.html

“We used ~5-30 mg/kg in our mice, and Johan Auwerx used 200-400 mg/kg.  If you subscribe to the “allometric scaling” by body surface area method, you divide by 12 to go from mouse to human, yielding ~150 mg or ~2g [2,000 mg] as the respective human-equivalent doses.  But since other polyphenols may have an additive or synergistic effect, I think it’s quite likely that Vindure is delivering the effect of a 2g [2,000 mg] dose of pure resveratrol – I would love to see pharmacokinetic data comparing Vindure to the resveratrol alone.”

CLICK HERE to purchase Vindure 900

Here are the six (6) reasons why we truly believe this to be so.

1. Solid Research Science

Studies have been conducted at many universities including Harvard, Yale, Marywood, University of Pennsylvania, Brown, University of Queensland, University of Leicester, University of Nebraska, University of Connecticut, University of Illinois, Rutgers, etc. etc. etc. The idea of calorie restriction extending life and helping abate age-related diseases has been proven many times in organisms, fish, animals, and humans. Scientist have also proven that calorie restriction activates the Sirtuin genes, which leads to longevity and a healthier, longer life. There is significant scientific evidence that these Sirtuin or SIRT genes can be activated by giving animals Resveratrol and many other Red Wine Grape polyphenols. 

2. Personal Experience

After taking a Resveratrol supplement for 4-6 weeks, all the partners at Vinomis have reported their own personal health improvements with Vindure 900 and Resveratrol. These ranged from increased energy, to lowered cholesterol and blood sugar, to increased endurance.

3. Experiences of Our Vinomis Customers

There’s nothing like a happy customer. We have personally spoken to over 100 of our customers who are taking Vindure 900. Virtually all of them (over 90%) report short-term benefits after taking Vindure for about a month. Those benefits include 1) increased energy level, 2) moderation of blood sugar levels in diabetics, 3) improved mood, 4) weight loss, and 5) increased endurance. One person even reported that her father who has dementia was “more responsive”, which really made my day. We’re in the process of publishing a report on these customers.

4. Red Wine is Good For You

Numerous studies have shown that red wine is good for you, and most of us have heard of the French Paradox and/or seen TV programs on Oprah, 60-minutes, etc. Unfortunately, you can’t drink a case or two of wine every day. So at Vinomis, we extracted Resveratrol from Japaneses Knot Weed, and a spectrum of polyphenols from Red Wine Grapes which has the resveratrol-equivalent of over 100 bottles of wine a day, without the alcohol or calories!

5. Long Term Health Effects

Unfortunately, scientists cannot yet measure the effects of taking Resveratrol and Red Wine Grape extracts over decades or a life time. But there have been countless university and scientific studies which show benefits in the areas of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and many other age-related illnesses. If even a single one of these is proven to be absolutely true, it’s sure worth the money to take Vindure 900 or other high-quality Resveratrol + Red Wine Grape supplements.

6. Longevity

Everyone is skeptical of the longevity claims about Resveratrol and Red Wine Grape extracts. But you can’t argue too much with proven science that has shown that the up-regulation (increase) in SIRT genes increases lifespan from 20 – 50% in yeast, mice, fish, mammals, etc. All the other reasons are more than enough for me to take Vindure 900, and if we all live longer to boot, you can’t beat that…

Read about many other Human Clinical Trials — click here

One such study was performed in 2006 by Dr. James Smoliga of Marywood University. His 90 target subjects were given a polyphenol blend of 400 mg Resveratrol dosage, 400 mg Red Wine Grape extract, and 100 mg Quercetin. [This is the identical blend as in Vindure 900 from Vinomis]

The link below is to a medical presentation given by Dr. Smoliga at the American Association of Anti Aging Conference, Orlando, FL. April 25-27, 2008: Smoliga J. M. Evaluation of Resveratrol and Other Grape Skin Polyphenols in Human Clinical Trails. 16th Annual World Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine.  

http://roth-communications.com/MP3/Orlando1539/1539-GS07c.pdf

Dr. Smoliga’s results show an increase in human endurance, performance, strength and verbal memory in the subject patients.

Dr. Smoliga is conducting ongoing research at Marywood University on Resveratrol and Red Wine Grape extracts.