Health Benefits and Molecular Mechanisms of Resveratrol: A Narrative Review

1Many foodstuffs and their bioactive components are beneficial to certain diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer. Resveratrol is a polyphenol, which naturally occurs in numerous foods, such as blueberries and peanuts, as well as grapes and their derived products like red wine. Since resveratrol was reported to possess strong anticancer properties in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression stages in the well-regarded journal Science in 1997, its bioactivities and health benefits have been intensively investigated. Many epidemiologic studies demonstrated that resveratrol is effective in the prevention of some diseases, such as CVDs and cancer. Additionally, numerous experimental studies have illustrated that resveratrol is beneficial to a broad range of diseases, including CVDs, diabetes, obesity, cancer, liver diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease through redox/inflammatory/immune signaling pathways as well as the interplay between lipid and glucose metabolism. Driven by the promising results from experimental research, many clinical trials have also elicited the efficacy of resveratrol against certain diseases.

2This review summarizes the main findings regarding the bioactivities and health impacts of resveratrol, based on systematically searching English literature from Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed in the last five years, using the key word “resveratrol”. The literature was categorized into epidemiological surveys, experimental studies, and clinical trials. In particular, this review highlights the health benefits of resveratrol on chronic diseases including CVDs, cancer, liver diseases, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease, and its related molecular mechanisms. We hope that this narrative review paper can provide updated information about resveratrol and can attract more attention to its health benefits.

3Since resveratrol was illustrated to be one of the key factors in wine contributing towards the French paradox (high intake of saturated fat but low mortality from coronary heart disease), it has attracted overwhelming interest worldwide, and many epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between resveratrol consumption and human health. Specifically, dietary patterns rich in resveratrol were demonstrated to significantly reduce all-cause mortality. Resveratrol also showed its potential to improve CVD risk factors, presenting significantly decreased fasting blood glucose, triglycerides (TGs), and heart rate. In addition, a case-control study reported a significant inverse association between resveratrol from grapes (but not from wine) and breast cancer risk. Furthermore, a lower risk of esophageal cancer was linked with higher resveratrol intake. However, some null results or even harmful effects on health have also been reported. For instance, in a cross-sectional study in the Iranian population, resveratrol intake (top quantile, 0.054 mg/day and more) was positively associated with high blood pressure (hazard ratios, HR: 1.52; 95% confidence intervals, 95% CI: 1.02–2.27), without an significant association with waist circumference, TG, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), blood glucose, and metabolic syndrome. Similar null outcomes were found in other studies. In fact, the findings from different epidemiological studies are often inconsistent, because their validity depends on many factors like the study design, sample size, resveratrol dose, follow-up duration, as well as the participants’ race, health status, eating patterns, and their food preference (Table 1). Nevertheless, the positive results support further exploration of what other health effects resveratrol might provide and how it achieves them.

4Given the observed benefits based on resveratrol consumption, a great deal of research has explored more health outcomes of resveratrol as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms.

5Resveratrol has shown strong antioxidant properties in many studies. Resveratrol protects against oxidative stress, one of the primary contributors to many diseases, through various redox-associated molecular pathways (Figure 1 and Table 2). For instance, resveratrol upregulated the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), which decreased Akt phosphorylation, leading to an upregulation of antioxidant enzyme mRNA levels such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Resveratrol could also improve the antioxidant defense system by modulating antioxidant enzymes through downregulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meanwhile, resveratrol reduced the ischemia-reperfusion injury-induced oxidative stress by inhibiting the activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, thus the levels of antioxidants like glutathione (GSH) increased, and free radicals were directly scavenged. Furthermore, resveratrol activated adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to maintain the structural stability of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), facilitate its translocation, and accomplish its transcriptional function. Moreover, resveratrol was demonstrated to improve systemic oxidative and nitrosative stress by activating AMPK, then sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) associated antioxidant defense pathways, as Nrf2 acts as the master regulator of numerous genes encoding antioxidants and phase II-detoxifying enzymes and molecules. Additionally, resveratrol exhibited antioxidant bioactivities by regulating antioxidant gene expression via the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/Nrf2 pathway and SIRT1. Recently, resveratrol was reported to attenuate oxidative injury owing to the induced autophagy via the AMPK-mediated inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling or via the activation of transcription factor EB (TFEB), which promoted the formation of autophagosomes and lysosomes as well as their fusion into an autolysosome. Generally, resveratrol protects against oxidative stress mainly by (i) reducing ROS/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generation; (ii) directly scavenging free radicals; (iii) improving endogenous antioxidant enzymes (e.g., SOD, CAT, and GSH); (iv) promoting antioxidant molecules and the expression of related genes involved in mitochondrial energy biogenesis, mainly through AMPK/SIRT1/Nrf2, ERK/p38 MAPK, and PTEN/Akt signaling pathways; (v) inducing autophagy via mTOR-dependent or TFEB-dependent pathway.

6Resveratrol has been illustrated to have potent anti-inflammatory activities in many studies (Table 2). Resveratrol protected from inflammation not only by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), but also by inducing anti-inflammatory heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in RAW264.7 macrophages. Additionally, resveratrol suppressed IL-6 transcription, modulating the inflammatory responses as an estrogen receptor α (ERα) ligand mediated by SIRT1, which functions as an ER coregulator. Resveratrol could also inhibit nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling independent of SIRT1. Moreover, resveratrol attenuated inflammation by downregulating high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as well as suppressing NF-κB and Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathways. In addition, both in vitro and in vivo, the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol were associated with its inhibition of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB signaling cascade. Furthermore, resveratrol attenuated inflammation by inhibiting the activation of NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NALP3) inflammasome and inducing autophagy via SIRT1 upregulation and AMPK activation. In a study on osteoarthritis, resveratrol interrupted an inflammatory amplification loop. Specifically, the resveratrol-induced NF-κB inhibition resulted in decreased IL-6 secretion, leading to suppressed signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation in macrophages. Since STAT3 was responsible for the positive regulation of IL-6 secretion, inhibition of STAT3 made IL-6 levels even lower. Resveratrol could also block ERK1/2 activation, consequently upregulating MyD88 Short, a negative regulator of inflammation. Altogether, resveratrol was able to regulate the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines to protect against inflammation, mainly by upregulating SIRT1, suppressing NF-κB, and the associated cascades, as well as inhibiting NALP3 inflammasome activation.

7Resveratrol has exerted immunomodulating effects in various studies (Table 2). Resveratrol modulates immune response against pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and some toxic materials. For instance, resveratrol upregulated immune responses and reduced immunocyte apoptosis in chickens receiving conventional vaccinations and improved the growth of young chickens. Resveratrol also reduced the activity of respiratory syncytial virus and inhibited the toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing β interferon (TRIF) expression through upregulating sterile α and armadillo motif protein (SARM). In addition, resveratrol prevented enterovirus 71 (EV71) replication and reduced the virus-induced elevated IL-6 and TNF-α secretion in rhabdosarcoma cells via suppressing IκB kinase (IKK)/NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, resveratrol inhibited human rhinoviruses-16 replication and normalized virus-induced IL-6, IL-8 and regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) as well as the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Additionally, resveratrol maintained the immune function in rotavirus-infected piglets, resulting in attenuated diarrhea and inflammation. Moreover, resveratrol triggered an immune response to protect against non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (a respiratory bacterium) without developing resistance in vitro. Resveratrol also decreased bacterial viability and reduced infectious airway inflammation without noticeable host toxicity in vivo. In addition, resveratrol showed immunomodulatory properties via reducing bacterial and inflammatory biomarkers in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-challenged primary Atlantic salmon macrophages. Resveratrol also modulated immunity caused by some toxic materials like concanavalin A (Con A), showing upregulation of SIRT1 and reduction of cytokines such as TNF-α, interferon γ (IFN-γ), IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Interestingly, resveratrol was found to strongly enhance immune activity in immunosuppressive mice, showing a bidirectional regulatory effect on immunity. Specifically, resveratrol improved spleen lymphocyte proliferation, enhanced the function of peritoneal macrophages, and increased the CD4+ cells in peripheral blood. Furthermore, some cytokines in the serum were upregulated, such as IL-1α/β, IL-2, and TNF-α. Based on a statistical analysis of human microarray data, a recent study revealed that resveratrol regulated many immune response pathways including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α)/retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) activation, IL-10 signaling, natural killer cell signaling, leucocyte extravasation signaling, and IL-6 signaling. Recently, it was revealed that resveratrol could suppress the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway, resulting in the reversal of imbalanced Th17/Treg, the main characteristic of immune thrombocytopenic purpura.In short, resveratrol could modulate both cellular and humoral immunity to reduce replication and the viability of pathogens, and bidirectionally regulate the related cytokine/chemokine production through the canonical immune response pathways as mentioned above.

8Resveratrol has been reported to protect against CVDs in certain research (Table 2). Resveratrol prevented the pathological progression of hypertension, a major risk factor of CVDs, through Nrf2 activation, owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity. Resveratrol could also lower blood pressure in hypertensive mice by inducing oxidative activation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase 1α (PKG1α). Atherosclerosis is another main contributor to CVDs. Resveratrol was able to block atherosclerotic plaque progression by acting against pro-atherogenic oxysterol signaling in M1 (inflammation-encouraging) and M2 (inflammation-decreasing) macrophages. Meanwhile, resveratrol prevented the activation of inflammasome, a contributor to the vascular inflammatory injury and atherosclerosis, via downregulating NF-κB p65 and p38 MAPK expression, and upregulating SIRT1 expression. In addition, resveratrol ameliorated atherosclerosis partially through restoring intracellular GSH via AMPK-α activation, resulting in inhibited monocyte differentiation and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Moreover, resveratrol regulated the band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, and moesin (FERM)-kinase and Nrf2 interaction, leading to decreased expression of ICAM-1 and then the inhibition of monocyte adhesion. Resveratrol also exhibited antithrombotic effects via decreasing the tissue factors like TNF-α, and such action could be facilitated by aortic endothelial cells that could deconjugate resveratrol metabolites to free resveratrol. Furthermore, one of the atherosclerosis consequences, high fat/sucrose diet-induced central arterial wall stiffening, was improved by resveratrol based on its protective activities against oxidative stress and inflammation. Resveratrol also effectively prevented CVD by improving the cardiac and vascular autonomic function, protecting the erythrocytes via interacting with hemoglobin and reducing heme-iron oxidation. In a heart failure model, resveratrol mitigated atrial fibrillation by upregulating PI3K and endothelial NOS (eNOS). In summary, the cardiovascular protective effects of resveratrol mainly depend on the capabilities of reducing oxidative stress and alleviating inflammation through Nrf2 and/or SIRT1 activation, PI3K/eNOS upregulation, and NF-κB downregulation.

9Resveratrol has exhibited protective impacts on various cancers, like colorectal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, liver cancer, and gastric cancer (Table 2). For instance, resveratrol was reported to inhibit the formation and growth of colorectal cancer by downregulating oncogenic KRAS expression. Resveratrol also prevented tumorigenesis and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells by interrupting glycolysis via inhibition of hexokinase II expression, which was mediated by downregulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/Akt/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Moreover, resveratrol showed pro-apoptotic/anti-proliferative effects in LNCaP cells (human prostate adenocarcinoma cells) through inducing the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, promoting ERK1/2 activation, and facilitating p53-dependent anti-proliferation gene expression. In addition, resveratrol could decrease the efficiency of ovarian cancer cells adhering to peritoneal mesothelium in vitro by downregulating the production of α5β1 integrins and upregulating the release of soluble hyaluronic acid. Resveratrol was also reported to inhibit the expression of phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1), leading to the growth inhibition of HeLa cells. Furthermore, resveratrol showed proliferation-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects in HepG2 cells by activating caspase-3 and caspase-9, upregulating the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and inducing p53 expression. Resveratrol also inhibited the invasion and migration of human gastric cancer cells by blocking the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, which was mediated by metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1). Additionally, resveratrol protected against breast cancer metastasis by promoting antitumor immune responses via blunting STAT3, leading to inhibited generation and function of tumor-evoked regulatory B cells (tBregs) as well as decreased production of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) (a downstream target of STAT3), which was required by the tBregs to convert resting CD4+ T cells to the metastasis-promoting FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Although some research showed that resveratrol may be beneficial in breast cancer chemoprevention due to its non-estrogen function, different doses of resveratrol showed controversial effects due to its interaction with estrogens, which induce cellular proliferation and play a key role in breast cancer development and progression. Specifically, it was found that high concentrations of resveratrol could inhibit the proliferation of estrogen receptor alpha positive (ERα+) breast cancer, while low concentrations increased the growth of ERα+ cells. It was reported that at low concentrations, resveratrol not only bound to ERs due to its structural similarity with E2, but also increased the formation of estrogen precursor steroids and inhibited the inactivation of active steroids, resulting in elevated active estrogen levels, leading to breast cancer cell growth and progression. However, “more resveratrol is better” was challenged in some cases. For instance, in terms of colorectal cancer chemoprevention, lower doses of resveratrol from dietary exposures exerted a better efficacy than high doses (200 times higher previously used in phase I clinical trials) due to its pro-oxidant activity at high doses and AMPK signaling upregulation.

10Collectively, resveratrol has shown its anticancer bioactivities by impairing glycolysis, inhibiting cancer cell growth and proliferation, inducing apoptosis, promoting antitumor immune responses, and preventing adhesion, migration and invasion of cancer cells by modulating related molecules and gene expression through various signaling pathways. Of note, different doses may lead to very different effects, which sometimes could be opposite. Therefore, consideration regarding doses and matrix should be paid more attention in future studies.

11Resveratrol has shown its protective impacts on several liver diseases in some studies (Table 2). Specifically, resveratrol alleviated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by upregulating the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and scavenger receptor class B type I (SRB1) gene expressions in the liver, or by regulating autophagy and decreasing the activity of NF-κB, resulting from restoring its inhibitor, nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor α (IκBα). Resveratrol also improved high-fat diet (HFD)-induced fatty liver by downregulating adipose differentiation-related proteins and increasing the numbers of CD68+ Kupffer cells. As for chemical-induced liver diseases, resveratrol could markedly restore the morphology and function of alcohol-injured liver through inducing autophagy, or downregulating hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) expression. In addition, resveratrol ameliorated CCl4-induced liver injury by blocking the Notch signaling pathway. Furthermore, resveratrol attenuated N′-Nitrosodimethylamine-induced hepatic fibrosis by restoring the architecture and normalizing collagen deposition, mainly due to its antioxidative activities and downregulation of smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), which suppressed hepatic stellate cell activation. Moreover, resveratrol pretreatment mitigated liver cirrhosis by improving the homing of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. In summary, resveratrol could improve NAFLD, chemical-induced liver injuries, fibrosis, and cirrhosis by modulating redox status, regulating lipid metabolism, ameliorating inflammation, and inducing autophagy with various cytokines, chemokines, and transcription factors involved.

12Resveratrol has been elicited to attenuate diabetes and its relevant complications in many studies (Table 2). Resveratrol was observed to significantly reduce blood glucose levels, plasma lipids, and free fatty acids in diabetic mice, and it inhibited the expression of inflammatory mediators (e.g., ICAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and MCP-1) both in the aorta and in the blood, by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. In addition, resveratrol could relieve diabetes via increasing insulin action and glucose utilization due to visfatin expression restoration, SIRT1 activation, and glucose transporter modulation. Moreover, resveratrol increased glucose uptake to improve insulin resistance in the muscle by decreasing diacylglycerol (DAG) accumulation and protein kinase C θ (PKC-θ) translocation, and preventing lipolysis under the condition of adipose hypoxia, because resveratrol could preserve phosphodiesterase 3B expression (PDE 3B) to downregulate cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), leading to the inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA)/hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) activation. Moreover, resveratrol showed protective effects on adipose tissue in diabetic mice by preventing ROS-mediated mitochondrial fission via AMPK-dependent upregulation of Drp1 phosphorylation, and by blocking the activation of NALP3 inflammasome via inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Resveratrol also protected against diabetic complications such as myocardial fibrosis, diabetic nephropathy, and erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, maternal resveratrol administration to the rats was evidenced to prevent the offspring’s glucose intolerance and islet dysfunction, which were associated with gestational diabetes. In summary, resveratrol could effectively regulate glucose metabolism, improve insulin resistance, improve diabetic complications, and restore the function of multiple systems via modulating SIRT1/NF-κB/AMPK signaling pathways and some associated molecules like NALP3 inflammasome, as well as the expressions of relevant genes.

13Obesity has become a severe health issue globally. Resveratrol significantly decreased the body weight and fat mass in mice with HFD-induced obesity, showing reduced leptin and lipids in plasma, modulated metabolism of glucose and insulin, and restored immune dysfunction, via the activation of PI3K/SIRT1 and Nrf2 signaling pathways, and the inhibition of transcriptional regulators (e.g., EP300 gene), which are involved in the differentiation of adipocytes as well as lipid storage and metabolism. Moreover, besides a significant dose-dependent decrease of weight gain and lipid deposition in the liver and adipose tissues of HFD-induced obese mice, low concentrations of resveratrol (1–10 μM) suppressed adipogenic differentiation in pre-adipocytes, downregulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) and perilipin protein in differentiated adipocytes, and inhibited TNF-α-induced lipolysis in mature adipocytes. Additionally, resveratrol prevented against obesity through markedly enhancing the catecholamine production, accompanied by suppressing the pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages and activating anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages in white adipose tissue, which play a pivotal role in the trans-differentiation of white adipocytes into beige adipocytes. Furthermore, resveratrol administrated to the pregnant and lactating mice led to promoted white adipose browning and thermogenesis in the male descendants, and these health benefits persisted and prevented obesity in their future life. In addition, resveratrol protected against sarcopenic obesity by improving mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress through the PKA/liver kinase B1 (LKB1)/AMPK pathway. Resveratrol also showed positive impacts on obesity-related complications, such as reproductive dysfunction like infertility and endocrine disorders. To summarize, resveratrol has been illustrated to decrease body weight, regulate lipid deposition, modulate adipocyte gene expression, and promote white adipose browning, via PI3K/SIRT1, Nrf2, PPAR-γ, TNF-α, and PKA/LKB1/AMPK signaling pathways (Table 2).

14Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are neurodegenerative disorders, seriously decreasing life quality, while resveratrol may have the potential to improve these diseases. For instance, resveratrol inhibited the aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ), a key factor in Alzheimer’s disease, by modulating specific proteins such as ubiquitin-like protein (UBL)/X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) involved in proteostasis. Furthermore, resveratrol prevented memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease by decreasing elevated levels of mitochondrial complex IV protein in the mouse brain via the activation of SIRT1 and AMPK pathways. In terms of Parkinson’s disease, resveratrol ameliorated ERS by downregulating the gene expression of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), inhibiting caspase-3 activity in the rat brain, and ameliorating oxidative damage via suppressing xanthine oxidase activity and protein carbonyl formation as well as activating the glutathione peroxidase and Nrf2 signaling pathway. Resveratrol also alleviated Parkinson’s disease through elevating miR-214 expression, leading to decreased mRNA expression of α-synuclein. Taken together, resveratrol ameliorated Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease by activating the SIRT1, AMPK, and Nrf2 signaling pathways and modulating the associated gene expressions (Table 2).

15Acting as an estrogen agonist, resveratrol showed sex-dependent effects on some diseases, which causes increasing concerns (Table 2). CVD risk increases with increasing age, gradually in men while disproportionately in women, and such a lower risk was in association with estrogen’s cardioprotective properties. In a recent in vivo study, sex differences were observed in rats with surgically-induced myocardial infarction (MI) due to the resveratrol treatment (2.5 mg/kg/d). Superior improvements were observed in females in terms of interventricular septal wall dimension at systole (IVSDs), end-systolic volume (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), among which IVRT was purely sex-dependent. In another study, long-term resveratrol treatment in rats (50 mg/L in drinking water, 21 days) increased the relaxations to estrogen in aortae, more potently in males, probably due to the effects of resveratrol on promoting nitric oxide and/or suppressing superoxides. Alongside this, it was revealed that resveratrol (20 mg/kg) significantly increased dopamine transporter (DAT) in the striatum in female but not in male mice. The in vitro study in the same research indicated that resveratrol upregulated DAT in the dopaminergic cells by inducing its gene transcription. Additionally, sex differences in the effect of resveratrol were also found in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Adverse effects were observed in females but not in males, regarding weight loss, stool consistency, and discomfort. Such results indicate that special attention should be paid to the application of resveratrol, a phytoestrogen, which can interact with hormone receptors and result in sex-dependent effects that can be beneficial or harmful.

16In light of the positive epidemiological evidence and the promising results from experimental studies, resveratrol has been investigated in the human population as a potential nutraceutical (Table 3). There are certain encouraging outcomes reported. Specifically, resveratrol intake (500 mg/day for 30 days) was demonstrated to reduce CVD risk factors by increasing SIRT1, enhancing total antioxidant capacity in healthy individuals, decreasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), ApoB, and oxidized LDL. Moreover, resveratrol prevented bone density loss (500 mg/day for 6 months) in type-2 diabetic patients. In addition, resveratrol showed benefits in obesity, NAFLD, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, some null outcomes have also been reported. For instance, resveratrol intake (250 mg/day for 8 weeks) did not increase SIRT1 nor improve many cardiovascular risk factors in healthy aged men. In some other studies, no significant improvements were found in metabolic biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, obesity or type-2 diabetes, respectively, though their resveratrol intake ranged from 150 to 1000 mg/day with different duration of 4–52 weeks. Therefore, the outcomes of clinical studies are not always consistent. Of note, the health effects of resveratrol as a therapeutic intervention may be affected by many factors, such as baseline health status of the subjects, their demographic profile, lifestyle, eating pattern, resveratrol dose, and intervention period. Nevertheless, a well-designed study, proper sample size, and a scientific evaluation system are also needed. Furthermore, although resveratrol is well-tolerated and safe as reported by most of the clinical trials, very few adverse effects (e.g., nausea and diarrhea) were observed, as well as some unfavorable results like an increase in total cholesterol, ApoB, the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score, fasting blood glucose, body fat, and the inflammatory markers. Interestingly, resveratrol was reported to mask the exercise training-induced benefits, blunting the improved cardiovascular health parameters. It might be attributable to the potent antioxidant capability of resveratrol, which could scavenge the free radicals induced by exercise training, because the appropriate number of free radicals is necessary for health maintenance. Therefore, it could be suggested that foods containing resveratrol should not be consumed during exercise.

17Resveratrol is one of the most investigated bioactive compounds in foods. A number of epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that resveratrol is effective in the prevention of some diseases such as CVDs and cancer, although the results are sometimes inconsistent. In addition, the experimental studies have shown that resveratrol possesses many bioactivities and health benefits like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory effects, and improving CVDs, cancer, liver diseases, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, resveratrol showed some effects in patients with CVDs and obesity in clinical trials, although inconsistency has also been reported. In the future, more bioactivities and health benefits of resveratrol should be evaluated, and further clarification of the underlying mechanisms of action is required. In order to develop resveratrol into functional foods and pharmaceuticals, more clinical trials are essential to confirm its efficacy and observe the possible adverse events, and the dose–effect relationship should be paid special attention as well.