A new study contradicts earlier beliefs that the consumption of red wine, chocolate, and berries can help reduce the risk to heart disease and cancer because of the antioxidant resveratrol.

Resveratrol is a plant compound believed to be rich in antioxidants that can protect the body from heart disease and cancer. It is usually found in red grapes, as well as peanuts and berries. Earlier studies concluded this polyphenol helps reduce inflammation of the heart and prevents the formation of blood clots that could lead to heart attack. It is also believed to be capable of limiting the spread of cancer cells in the body. However, these beliefs are being questioned by a new study from Italy.

Researchers from the John Hopkins University of Medicine led by Dr. Richard Semba examined the urine samples of 783 people aged 65 and above from Tuscany, Italy using a method called mass spectrometry. They looked for the presence of metabolites of resveratrol on the samples.

Their analysis revealed that there is no significant difference in heart disease and cancer risk for those who consumed resveratrol regularly compared to those who did not. The results remained consistent even after considering other factors such as age and gender.

"It's just that the benefits, if they are there, must come from other polyphenols or substances found in those foodstuffs," said Dr. Semba in a university news release. "These are complex foods, and all we really know from our study is that the benefits are probably not due to resveratrol."

The participants of the study ingested resveratrol from natural sources such as red wine. None of them took the compound in supplement form.

"The story of resveratrol turns out to be another case where you get a lot of hype about health benefits that doesn't stand the test of time. The thinking was that certain foods are good for you because they contain resveratrol. We didn't find that at all," Semba added.

This study was published in the May 12 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.