What it means
Resveratrol is a stilbene polyphenol produced by grapes, peanuts and Japanese knotweed in response to stress. In 2003 it was reported to activate SIRT1 and extend lifespan in yeast, which launched the sirtuin hypothesis of ageing. In mice on a high-fat diet it improved metabolic markers and survival; in normally fed mice it did not extend lifespan.
A glass of red wine contains roughly 1–2 mg; supplements provide 100–1,000 mg, and most is metabolised in the gut and liver within an hour.
Why it matters for longevity
Resveratrol matters as a lesson. It had a mechanism, a lifespan result in simple organisms, a compelling metabolic story in obese mice, and a drug company (Sirtris, bought by GSK for $720 million in 2008) behind it. The human trials then showed small, inconsistent effects, GSK shut the programme, and the supplement kept selling.
What the evidence says
In the NIA Interventions Testing Program, resveratrol did not extend lifespan in mice at either dose tested. The original SIRT1-activation result was later shown to depend on a fluorescent tag in the assay.
Human trials: Timmers 2011 found improved metabolic markers in 11 obese men on 150 mg/day for 30 days; a larger follow-up did not replicate. A 2013 trial in healthy older adults found resveratrol blunted the cardiovascular benefits of exercise training. Meta-analyses report no consistent effect on glucose, lipids, blood pressure or inflammatory markers in non-diabetics, with possibly small benefits in type 2 diabetes.
How to measure or use it
- No marker to track; the predicted effects (insulin sensitivity, hs-CRP) have not appeared consistently in trials.
- At supplement doses it can interact with blood thinners and raise liver enzymes; the exercise-blunting result argues against combining it with training.
- The evidenced ways to activate sirtuins are the same as for NAD+: training, an overnight fast, body-fat control.
Related
- Supplements that have evidence — where resveratrol ranks, and why
- Mitochondria and energy — what actually moves mitochondria
- The longevity drugs — the compounds that passed the ITP
Frequently asked questions
Does red wine count?
No. A glass contains 1–2 mg; the trial doses are 100–1,000 mg, and the alcohol outweighs any benefit.
Why did the mouse results not translate?
The lifespan effect was only in obese mice; normal mice gained nothing in the ITP. Oral bioavailability in humans is poor, and the SIRT1 activation assay was flawed.
Is there any use for it?
Small trials in type 2 diabetes show modest glucose effects. For healthy adults, no trial supports a benefit, and one found it blunted training gains.
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