The effects of resveratrol supplementation in overweight and obese humans: a systematic review of randomized trials
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Obesity and metabolic syndrome are significant global health issues, with current public health messages predominately focused on altering dietary and physical activity behaviors. Resveratrol is a polyphenol (stilbenoid) commonly found in grapes, and human trials to date have shown conflicting and limited beneficial effects with respect to health. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of resveratrol supplementation on reducing body weight and modifying associated inflammatory markers. METHODS: A systematic review was undertaken following the PRISMA guidelines and using five indexed databases (OVID MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and CINAHL). A search strategy was formulated to select randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials investigating the effects of resveratrol supplementation on obesity or overweight, including body weight, metabolic and inflammatory markers. RESULTS: Five thousand five hundred sixty-nine studies published from 1990 to November 2015 were identified, with only nine papers meeting the inclusion criteria. The studies involved 208 participants (aged 49.2 ± 8.3 years) and utilized a substantial range of resveratrol doses (75-3000 mg/day). Study durations were a minimum of 2 weeks (14-90 days). Seven studies indicated no significant change in body mass index or body weight (P > 0.05), and three studies showed no improvements in fat mass, fat volume, or abdominal fat distribution (P > 0.05). Four studies included measurements of inflammatory markers, with three of these finding resveratrol supplementation to have a significant positive effect (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the included studies, there is currently insufficient evidence to support the recommendation of resveratrol supplements in management of obesity. However, there were significant but not entirely consistent anti-inflammatory effects after resveratrol supplementation in overweight and obese individuals.
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Resveratrol has beneficial effects on metabolic health due to its ability to modulate mitochondrial function, biogenesis, and oxidative metabolism.
“resveratrol has emerged in the recent years for its beneficial effects on metabolic health due to its ability to modulate mitochondria function and biogenesis and oxidative metabolism (Christenson et al., 2016).”
From Mitochondrial (Dys)function and Insulin Resistance: From Pathophysiological Molecular Mechanisms to the Impact of Diet (2019) · cites this paper as Christenson et al., 2016
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Sergi, D., Naumovski, N., Heilbronn, L. K., Abeywardena, M., O’Callaghan, N., Lionetti, L., & Luscombe-Marsh, N. (2019) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.00532 · Cited by 347 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Christenson, J., Whitby, S. J., Mellor, D., Thomas, J., McKune, A., Roach, P. D., & Naumovski, N.
- Affiliations
- University of Canberra (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Naumovski, Nenad
- Venue
- Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-09
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 323-333
- ISSN
- 1540-4196 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-8518
- OpenAlex
- W2468631196
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 7
- FWCI
- 0.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Pure (Coventry University) (submittedVersion)
- NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Sirtuins and Resveratrol in Medicine
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Keywords
- resveratrol, dietary supplementation, obesity, overweight, body weight, body mass index, fat mass, abdominal fat, inflammatory markers, anti-inflammatory activity, metabolic syndrome, polyphenols
- MeSH terms
- Resveratrol, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Humans, Obesity, Stilbenes, Weight Loss, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Dietary Supplements, Overweight
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