Resveratrol: Innovation in 2023

Resveratrol-a polyphenol found in red wine, blueberries, cranberries, and other plant-based foods-has been the subject of scientific research and public fascination since the early 1990s. More recently, the antioxidant has been associated with longevity and healthy aging.

In fact, “Healthy aging is the overall area of highest interest” for resveratrol, says Johannes Hearle, PhD, senior technical manager for resveratrol ingredient supplier Evolva (Reinach, Switzerland). Hearle counts more than 20 clinical studies published in 2018 alone that seek to elucidate resveratrol’s link to longevity.

“Under this healthy-aging umbrella,” he continues, “we see numerous studies focused on metabolism, bone health, cognitive support, and oral health. There are also studies focused on women’s health, and we are hearing a lot of interest in resveratrol and skin health for both topical applications and ingestible ‘beauty from within’ applications.”

Conclusions from published studies indicate that “all these areas can potentially be positively impacted by resveratrol,” Hearle says, “which is what we find so exciting about this powerful polyphenol.”

The following slides offer information and updates on recent resveratrol studies, the latest delivery-form innovations for this ingredient, and which resveratrol applications look the most promising in the near future.

Resveratrol Science

The largest-ever study of resveratrol in postmenopausal women, according to Evolva, is ongoing and expected to be completed in the spring of this year, with analysis and conclusions published later.

“This is a very important and exciting resveratrol trial,” Hearle says. Preliminary results were presented by Peter Howe, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Nutrition at the University of Newcastle, Australia, last October, at Resveratrol 2018, the fifth international conference of resveratrol and health, held in Xi’an, China. The two-year, randomized, crossover clinical trial is the “longest and largest” (with 140 participants) resveratrol trial to be undertaken in postmenopausal women, Evolva says, and the researchers are seeking to assess the outcomes of cognitive performance, cerebrovascular responsiveness, bone mineral density, and muscle mass in its subjects with resveratrol supplementation.

Preliminary results presented by Howe at the resveratrol conference point to significant benefits of 75 mg of Evolva’s Veri-te resveratrol taken twice daily compared to placebo. Highlights include a reduction in the loss of bone mineral density in the neck of the femur in study subjects, resulting in a 12% improvement in the FRAX t-score (a Fracture Risk Assessment tool), a 36% reduction in hip fracture risk, and a 9% reduction in the 10-year risk of a major osteoporotic fracture.

At the University of Toronto, Canada, a study of resveratrol supplementation’s effects on chronic periodontitis led by Howard Tenenbaum, DDS, PhD, is currently recruiting more subjects “to provide sufficient power to enable significance to be generated in the results,” Hearle says. He adds that “outcomes using resveratrol remain very promising; oral inflammatory load measurements show that patients taking resveratrol had marked reductions compared to placebo.” The study is estimated to end this spring.

Finally, a similar study of resveratrol’s impact on smokers with periodontitis taking place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and led by Marcio Zaffalon Casati, PhD, at the Universidade Paulista is ongoing with an end date and analysis expected this spring or later in the year.

Delivery Systems for Resveratrol

Advances in resveratrol delivery center on improving bioavailability of the ingredient, convenience for the consumer, and supply-chain confidence. One recent innovation is Evolva’s cold-water-dispersible resveratrol ingredient Veri-Sperse, which was developed using LipiSperse technology in partnership with Pharmako Biotechnologies. Applications include powder beverages, liquid shots, oral dispersible tablets, and effervescent tablets.

Another Evolva formula, Veri-te RVM50, is a 50% resveratrol formula developed to be contaminant- and emodin-free, thereby “delivering peace of mind for customers with supply-chain concerns,” Hearle explains. Sourcing resveratrol can be complicated, Hearle notes, and there can be issues with environmental contaminants, unreliable supply, and a lack of trust and transparency.

Other innovations include Nutrinovate’s Reserol beauty-from-within skincare product, made with Veri-te resveratrol, which delivers the ingredient directly to the oral mucosa via an oral film strip.

“We are also seeing a number of gums and drink powders that deliver resveratrol to the system for joint health, cardiovascular health, and general aging,” Hearle reports. “Having a pure, reliable source of contaminant-free Veri-te resveratrol is critical for these new applications, where the flavor and odor must be neutral for consumer acceptance.”

Potential Applications Showing Promise

Hearle sees a bright future for resveratrol as both a single ingredient and a component of combination formulas for both human and animal health. He predicts that the areas of sports nutrition, pre- and post-workout nutrition, mental performance, and beauty from within will all garner more attention in the near future by way of both clinical studies and product development.