Resveratrol

What the evidence says

Resveratrol is a polyphenol found in grape skin, berries, and peanuts that became a geroscience candidate after animal and cellular work involving metabolic stress pathways. Translating those mechanisms has been difficult because oral bioavailability is low and human products span very different doses and formulations.^[1][2]

A 2024 systematic review catalogued almost 200 purified-resveratrol clinical trials across at least 24 indications and concluded that no conclusive evidence supports recommending it in healthcare. Small changes in inflammatory or metabolic markers have not converged on a reproducible clinical indication.^[1]

In older adults, a review of 10 randomized trials found mixed signals in cognition, exercise adaptation, Alzheimer disease, and mobility, with no consistent benefit in diabetes or peripheral artery disease and possible adverse cardiovascular-marker changes at high doses. A 2026 umbrella review similarly found many reported associations but generally limited credibility across outcomes.^[2][4]

The often-repeated sirtuin explanation also remains unconfirmed in people: a 2025 GRADE-assessed meta-analysis found no significant overall effect on SIRT1 gene expression, protein expression, or serum levels. No human trial shows that resveratrol slows biological aging in a validated way, extends lifespan, or substitutes for established cardiovascular or metabolic treatment.^[3][5]

Gastrointestinal upset, headache, and fatigue become more common at higher doses, and resveratrol may affect platelet function or drug-metabolizing enzymes. Long-term safety and interactions with anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and other medicines remain incompletely established.^[1][2]