Resveratrol News: Is Resveratrol Safe For Weight Loss?

There is no doubt about it – resveratrol, a well known plant extract like aspirin and the heart medicine digitalis, seems to have a very powerful and broad effect on living organisms. Acting as a phytoestrogen, resveratrol can imitate the many effects and benefits of the hormone estrogen. In a study using cells of both rodents and humans, resveratrol has been seen to disrupt the genetic machinery and reactions that give birth to inflammation as well as cancerous tumors. Along with that, in cell cultures found in the brain tissue, this powerful plant extract showed that cleaning up those tangled amyloid deposits (which are believed to cause Alzheimer’s Disease) is a piece of cake!

Indeed, resveratrol is a potentially powerful drug. HOWEVER, unlike aspirin and digitalis, resveratrol has been qualified as a food or dietary supplement. With that in mind, many resveratrol supplements are produced and marketed by companies that operate under government supervision that is NOT as strict or stringent as those supervisors of prescription drug producing companies. While it is true that manufacturers of resveratrol supplements are forbidden to make direct claims that their resveratrol products has the power to treat or prevent human diseases, they are permitted to show animal research that suggests the resveratrol’s disease curing and preventing powers.

This sounds like good news for the manufacturers as they are in under no obligation to demonstrate how safe their supplement is before they can sell it. BUT for people who are asking – is resveratrol safe for weight loss? This is a little alarming. Many supplement advocates say that if a plant extract or a substance only brings positive effects (which resveratrol seems to), there’s very little need to wait for studies and clinical trials to see if it’s safe. Along with that, determining and fine tuning these supplements to contain the perfect dose of resveratrol seem to be unnecessary.

HOWEVER, traditional health experts couldn’t disagree more! According to Dr. Gerald Weissman (the director if Biotechnology Study Center Of New York University) – taking resveratrol as a food supplement without determining its safety and with no toxicity studies is outright stupid. Along with that, Dr. Weissman added that you could get pimples, infections, and other worse conditions. The antioxidants that resveratrol unleashes when taken could weaken our defenses against some dangerous micro organisms and bacteria.

On the other hand, Dr. Arthur Grollman, who is a microbiologist situated at the New York State University established on Stony Brook, states that people who are taking resveratrol do so in large supplements, having faith that these plant extracts and compounds will have the same effects that they do under laboratory conditions and when tested with animals. HOWEVER, here’s the problem, in complex biological issues like aging and the diseases that come with it, these compounds rarely do what they do under lab conditions (as said by Dr. Grollman).

Now let us go back to the question - Is resveratrol safe?

It’s still to early to answer that question. There are different studies and researches underway. And when they are done, we can see whether this faith that resveratrol advocates is well founded or illusory. Needless to say, it will take long and several years before these studies are done. As of the moment, there are 12 clinical and human trials on going. Among these studies, only 2 are on Phase 3 (Advanced Human Trials for those who don’t know it) – looking at the safety and effectiveness of this plant extract and compound against diseases like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, and other life threatening diseases.

So heed my advice – always be on the watch for the latest developments concerning resveratrol!