Resveratrol is a longevity polyphenol found in grapes. According to Dr. David Sinclair, resveratrol has significantly increased the life-span of yeast, nematode, fly and fish in the laboratory. It has been reported that resveratrol can also reduce the sugar level in the blood, an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer element. It has, also, cardio-vascular benefits. However, in human subjects, extremely high doses of resveratrol have to be taken to achieve the needed result. According to Sinclair’s report, you have to drink 1,000 bottles of red wine every day to achieve its desired effect to the body, but absolutely not advisable. Now, it has been released either in pill form or capsule, which have more concentrated content.
As regards its side effects, they are mostly based on personal accounts of a few people, and not based on extensive studies. Adverse effects of resveratrol have not been medically proven. Taking it may or may not cause you the following; stomach cramping/diarrhea, decreased appetite, jittery feeling (like a caffeine “buzz”), tingling or numbness in the arms, hands, legs and feet, skin patches, joint pain/arthritis, and tendinitis pain.
As regards the length of use, there’s no proof that prolonged use is bad.

Resveratrol started to make headlines in 2006 with promises to increase longevity, cure arthritis, protect hearts, and increases energy. It is a polyphenolic compound that is naturally occurring in grapes, purple grape juice, red wine, blueberries, cranberries, and peanuts. The 2006 study was on old mice (114 weeks old) given resveratrol; scientists found that they had increased metabolism, doubled exercise endurance, and lost weight. More recent research has suggested that resveratrol may reduce prostate tumors, breast tumors, skin tumors, and inhibit colon and pancreatic cancers, as well as melanoma and leukemia.

Can resveratrol help you? Perhaps. It’s important to remember that these tests have been performed on mice, yeast, worms, fruit flies, and fish. They sound impressive and miraculous, but these results were not produced in humans. Until more studies have been done on humans, it might benefit you more to consume the foods that resveratrol is found in.

If you choose to take resveratrol, you won’t need a prescription. You can take a supplement containing resveratrol, just know that it metabolizes and is eliminated very quickly in humans unless accompanied by quercetin. Also, many supplement companies are just jumping on the bandwagon to make money off of the studies on resveratrol. Seek out a company that has research behind its products as well as good manufacturing processes (http://www.npainfo.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=CertifiedCompanies&category=QualityAssurance).