Resveratrol
Summary
Resveratrol's main contribution regarding cancer is in optimizing your body terrain—reducing inflammation and oxidative stress that are known to support cancer development and growth. It's used widely in integrative programs.
Resveratrol has shown limited anticancer action in clinical studies. Animal studies show resveratrol may reduce toxicity to the heart from doxorubicin and protect the lining of the digestive system from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Resveratrol is found in grape skins and seeds, peanuts and other foods but is usually used as a supplement. Supplements are generally low-cost and widely available.
Cautions are noted about interactions with a few prescription drugs. Before using resveratrol, consult your oncology team about interactions with other treatments and therapies. Also make sure resveratrol is safe for use with any other medical conditions you may have.
Evidence of Effectiveness
Treating Cancer 
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Optimizing Your Body Terrain 
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Cancer thrives on out-of-balance features of your body terrain: oxidation, inflammation, immunity, glycemia and more. See Body Terrain and the Tumor Microenvironment.
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Anti-oxidant effects
- Increased insulin sensitivity in animals
- Protects cells from damage from radiation and some carcinogenic chemicals
- All evidence to date is from lab and animal studies.
Managing Side Effects
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- Prevents toxicity to the heart from doxorubicin in animals
- May protect the lining of the stomach (gastric mucosa) against side effects from use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Reducing Cancer Risk
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Use by Integrative Oncology Experts 
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- Substantial use by integrative practitioners
- See Integrative Programs, Protocols and Medical Systems below
Safety
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- Generally safe, although some interactions are noted with a few prescription drugs, including antiplatelet drugs, cytochrome P450 substrates and carbamazepine
- Caution has been noted with some breast cancer subtypes, although only in preclinical studies
Affordability and Ease of Access 
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- Resveratrol supplements are widely available in drug stores, at generally low cost (<$500/year)
Details and Evidence
 Author
Nancy Hepp, MS, BCCT Project Manager
Read more Ms. Hepp is a science researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. View profile.  Reviewer
Laura Pole, RN, MSN, OCNS, BCCT Senior Researcher
Read more Ms. Pole is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation and education services for more than 30 years. View profile. Last updated April 7, 2021.
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Resveratrol is a polyphenol, a group of compounds thought to act as antioxidants in the body, reducing oxidative stress.
Although grape skin and seeds are rich in resveratrol, and red wine is a natural source, it is usually consumed as a dietary supplement. Other food sources of resveratrol include peanuts, pistachios, blueberries, cranberries, cocoa and dark chocolate.
Treating the Cancer
Working against cancer growth or spread, improving survival, or working with other treatments or therapies to improve their anticancer action
Clinical Evidence
- Increased markers of cell death (apoptosis) in cancerous liver tissue in patients with colorectal cancer and liver metastases
- Reduced tumor cell proliferation by 5 percent in a small study of colorectal cancer patients
Lab and Animal Evidence
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Resveratrol shows these anticancer effects:
- Inhibited growth of cancer cells at all carcinogenesis stages
- Inhibited cancer cell proliferation, and induced cell cycle arrest and cell death (apoptosis) in lung cancer cells.
- Showed anticancer effects on thyroid cancer cells
- Induced cell death (apoptosis) and inhibited angiogenesis (formation of blood vessels to suppy tumors) and tumor invasion in brain cancer
Reversed multidrug resistance in breast cancer cell studies
- Anticancer effects in ovarian cancer cell studies: reduced cell growth and metabolism,, inhibited ovarian cancer cell migration, and increased growth inhibitory/anticancer activity of cisplatin and doxorubicin in cells
- Anticancer effects, including cell death (apoptosis) in cell studies of prostate cancer
- Colorectal cancer:
- Inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cells
- Induced cell death (apoptosis) and inhibited cell cycle progression of colon cancer cells
- Prevented formation of colon tumors and reduced their numbers and reduced the formation of small intestinal tumors by 70 percent in mice
- Sensitized colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil
Optimizing Your Terrain
Creating an environment within your body that does not support cancer development, growth or spread
Lab and Animal Evidence
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- Anti-inflammatory:
- Binds with COX-2, which is highly expressed in various cancers
- Reduces IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in 40 healthy volunteers
- Inhibited obesity-associated inflammation and claudin-low breast cancer growth in mice
- Reduced LPS-induced inflammatory responses and the down-regulation of NF-κB activity in human colon cancer cells,
- Inhibited the expression of cell cycle progression and cell proliferation genes but increased expression of genes involved in immune response and inhibition of tumor promoting pathways
- Protected cells from radiation damage and the toxicity induced by some carcinogenic substances such as benzo[a]pyrene, azoxymethane and 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in preclinical studies
- Increased insulin sensitivity in mice fed a high caloric diet
Managing Side Effects and Promoting Wellness
Managing or relieving side effects or symptoms, reducing treatment toxicity, supporting quality of life or promoting general well-being
Lab and Animal Evidence
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- Prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity
- Lower doses of resveratrol (2 mg/kg) may protect gastric mucosa against side effects from use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as gastric ulceration.
Reducing Risk
Reducing the risk of developing cancer or the risk of recurrence
Clinical Evidence
- Resveratrol inhibited a major risk factor for colon cancer development in normal linings of the colon (colonic mucosa) but did not inhibit colon cancer in a small study of colon cancer patients.
Lab and Animal Evidence
- Suppressed colon tumor incidence in mice using resveratrol and grape seed extract, similar to sulindac and without any gastrointestinal toxicity
- Impaired the growth of colorectal aberrant crypt foci in rats
Cautions
The “About Herbs” description of resveratrol cautions patients with hormone-sensitive cancers about using resveratrol supplements. However, while resveratrol exhibits estrogen-like properties, neither of its metabolites do, and so metabolized resveratrol from foods does not display estrogen-mimicking activity in the body. Some clinicians actually suggest using resveratrol supplements in some estrogen-influenced cancers, such as uterine.
Resveratrol promoted tumor growth and proliferation in luminal B breast cancer subtype models in mice and perhaps in other subtypes
Resveratrol is generally well tolerated, although high doses can cause gastrointestinal disturbance. Resveratrol should not be used in conjunction with a few prescription drugs, including antiplatelet drugs, cytochrome P450 substrates and carbamazepine. Patients using any of these medications should consult a medical professional before using resveratrol.
Access
Resveratrol supplements are widely available in drug stores at generally low cost.
Dosing
BCCT does not recommend therapies or doses, but only provides information for patients and providers to consider as part of a complete treatment plan. Patients should discuss therapies with their physicians, as contraindications, interactions and side effects must be evaluated.
Levels of active ingredients of natural products can vary widely between and even within products. See Quality and Sources of Herbs, Supplements and Other Natural Products.
Dosage recommendations are available from these sources:
Integrative Programs, Protocols and Medical Systems
- Programs and protocols
- Alschuler & Gazella complementary approaches
- Bastyr University Integrative Oncology Research Center protocol for stage IV breast cancer
- Block program
- Remission-support diet
- Anti-inflammatory terrain modifier
- Combination circulatory support supplement
- Progression pathway target modifier
- Molecular target modifier
- Remission maintenance program (detoxification)
- Lemole, Mehta & McKee protocols
- McKinney protocols
Non-cancer Uses of Resveratrol
Resveratrol is used in preventing Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and cardiovascular disease. It may protect the liver in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and it has increased insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients. Resveratrol has been applied topically to reduce acne. BCCT has not reviewed the effectiveness of this therapy for non-cancer uses.
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Note: BCCT has not conducted an independent review of research of resveratrol. This summary draws from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s About Herbs and other sources as noted.
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- Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010.
- McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2016. p. 316.
- Block KI. Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Treatment. New York: Bantam Dell. 2009.
- Lemole G, Mehta P, McKee D. After Cancer Care: The Definitive Self-Care Guide to Getting and Staying Well for Patients with Cancer. New York, New York: Rodale, Inc. 2015.
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View All References
More Information
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center About Herbs: Resveratrol
- TRC Natural Medicines: Resveratrol (subscription required): in-depth information, ratings of effectiveness and safety and evaluation of specific resveratrol products
- Consumer Labs: Product Review: Resveratrol Supplements (Grape, Red Wine, and Polygonum Sources)
- Moss Reports (purchase required): Select from the list of cancers down the left side of the page for a report describing uses of conventional, complementary, alternative and integrative therapies related to that cancer. Ralph Moss is among the most knowledgeable and balanced researchers of integrative cancer therapies. The cost of his Moss Reports is not negligible, but many patients find them of considerable value. Moss is also available for consultations.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: studies involving resveratrol
- Block KI, Block PB, Gyllenhaal C: Integrative Treatment for Colorectal Cancer
- Barbara MacDonald, ND, LAc: The Breast Cancer Companion: A Complementary Care Manual: Third Edition
- Keith Block and others: A Broad-Spectrum Integrative Design for Cancer Prevention and Therapy
- Dwight McKee, MD, editor: Clinical Pearls
- EmpowHER: Keith Block: My Activity
- Donald I. Abrams, MD, and Andrew T. Weil, MD: Integrative Oncology, 2nd Edition
- Neil McKinney, BSc, ND: Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition
- Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, and Karolyn Gazella: The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition
- Keith I. Block, MD: Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Treatment
- Lone Star Medical Group: Natural Alternative Treatments
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