Resveratrol Intake Improves Lipid Profile in Individuals with Dyslipidemia

by | Oct 12, 2020 | 2019, Blood Lipids, Cardiovascular Health

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Resveratrol supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations in newly diagnosed individuals with dyslipidemia.

blood lipidsOne of the key risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is abnormal lipid levels 1. This involves increased levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) 2,3. Resveratrol, a natural phenol found mainly in grapes and red wine, boasts a variety of favorable health effects, including potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, as well as anti-osteoporotic and anti-thrombotic (used to reduce formation of blood clots) effects 4,5. The polyphenol has been highly studied for its cardioprotective effects, and clinical studies report, for example, that supplementation with resveratrol (at a dose of 250 mg/d) can significantly diminish TC levels in type 2 diabetes patients 6 and reduce plasma TGs in obese individuals (at a dose of 150 mg/d) 7. Moderate intake of red wine has also been linked to lower rates of CVD, despite high levels of saturated fat intake 8. Resveratrol’s cardioprotective effects are thought to involve a number of potential mechanisms, including regulation of genes associated with lipid metabolism 9, improvement of endothelial function 10, and reduction of platelet aggregation 11. Still, clinical studies assessing the impact of resveratrol on lipid profile as a primary aim in human subjects are limited and inconsistent 12. Thus, in a 2019 study published in Nutrition, researchers evaluated the relationship between resveratrol supplementation and lipid profile in subjects newly diagnosed with dyslipidemia.

Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design, researchers enrolled a total of 71 subjects (aged 20 to 65 years) newly diagnosed with dyslipidemia (TC concentrations ≥ 200 mg/dL and/or TG levels ≥ 150 mg/dl). Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either resveratrol prepared from an extract of Polygonum cuspidatum (100 mg/d trans-resveratrol) or placebo (0.5 g/d sucrose) for 2 months. In addition to anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, fasting blood samples were taken and analyzed to determine lipid profile at baseline and at 2-month follow-up.

Although no significant differences were observed in terms of anthropometric measures, regarding biochemical parameters, subjects in the resveratrol group demonstrated a significant decrease in TC levels (-23.1 +/- 7.6 mg/dl vs. 0.6 +/- 8.2 mg/dl, respectively, p = 0.04) and TG levels (-23.1 +/- 16.3 mg/dl vs. 13.4 +/- 16.2 mg/dl, p = 0.04), relative to placebo, by the end of the study. No significant between-group differences, however, were detected for HDL-C, LDL-C, or non-HDL-C.

Findings from the current trial suggest that supplementation with resveratrol, at a dose of 100 mg/d for a period of 2 months, can effectively lower TC and TG levels in newly diagnosed dyslipidemia patients. Results confirm the cardioprotective effect of resveratrol, specifically highlighting its beneficial impact on lipid profile. The lack of any significant change in HDL-C and LDL-C levels warrants further investigation, and additional studies are needed to determine an optimal dose-response relationship. However, overall, present findings indicate that resveratrol may be a promising anti-dyslipidemic nutraceutical. Primary limitations of the present study may be related to its relatively short treatment period and the failure to account for the potential effects of a diet high in resveratrol.

Source: Simental-Mendia LE, Guerrero-Romero F. Effect of resveratrol supplementation on lipid profile in subjects with dyslipidemia: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrition. 2019; 58: 7-10.

© 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted October 12, 2020.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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