Previous studies have stated that red wine when consumed in moderate amounts is good for heath. This is primarily because of the presence of a substance called resveratrol, which is present in red wine. Resveratrol is said to be effective in decreasing the risk of heart diseases.
Since the popular studies, the sale of resveratrol as a supplement has increased. However, a new study conducted by researchers, state that resveratrol as a supplement may not be as beneficial for health as red wine.
This is especially true for middle-aged women. It's been believed that the consumption of red wine by middle-aged women increases life expectancy and prevents a few some life-threatening diseases.
When a study of healthy post-menopausal women was conducted, it was found that those who were taking over-the-counter resveratrol supplement had no additional health benefits when compared to those who took a dummy pill.
"Resveratrol supplements have become popular because studies in cells and rodents show it can prevent or reverse certain health problems like diabetes, heart disease and even cancer," study co-author Dr. Samuel Klein was quoted as saying by Mail Online. "But our data demonstrate it does not have metabolic benefits in relatively healthy, middle-aged women. Resveratrol supplementation may benefit these populations, but we cannot really say that without more definitive research.
"Few studies have evaluated the effects of resveratrol in people. Those studies were conducted in people with diabetes, older adults with impaired glucose tolerance or obese people who had more metabolic problems than the women we studied. So it is possible that resveratrol could have beneficial effects in people who are more metabolically abnormal than the women who participated in the study," he added.
"At the end of the day it's about eating well, exercising, managing stress, and generally taking care of yourself," says Preventive cardiologist Suzanne Steinbaum, MD, of Lenox Hill Hospital. "We are not going to find a cure-all in a pill."
