Q. What is in eResveratrol™?

A. eResveratrol™ contains: 99% pure trans-resveratrol from giant knotweed, polygonum cuspidatum, 200 mg per capsule;  98% pure quercetin, 50 mg; in a vehicle of lecithin and glycerolmonostearatcopherols to preserve freshness.

The capsules are made in a nitrogen environment and contain an internal nitrogen bubble by Licaps® a division of Pfizer

Q. Why is trans-resveratrol from giant knot weed used rather than red wine extract?

A. Past FDA labelling rules required resveratrol supplements to be called red wine extracts. However recent laboratory testing has shown that there is almost no trans-resveratrol present in red wine extracts which means this labelling policy is obsolete. A much more abundant and less expensive source of trans-resveratrol is the giant knotweed plant which is the chief source of trans-resveratrol on the market.

Q. How does eResveratrol™ work?

A. It activates the SIRT1 gene, which is also activated by calorie restriction. Resveratrol also acts as an antioxidant but these effects are much less important than SIRT1 activation.

Q. What is the quercetin for?

A. It is another polyphenol which helps maintain the blood level of resveratrol longer. It also activates SIRT1, but  more weakly than resveratrol

Q. Why not just drink red wine?

A. The effect of resveratrol is dose-related. Most red wine does not contain a significant amount of resveratrol, the concentration varies tremendously and therefore the "dose" of resveratrol is unreliable. The dramatic results of the recent mouse study by David Sinclair would have required over 100 glasses of red wine containing a maximum concentration of resveratrol. We think in terms of red wine because of the French Paradox, which suggests that small amounts of resveratrol are beneficial, but much higher doses, obtainable only from pills, are required to get the dramatic effects of the mouse study. 

Q. What diseases does eResveratrol™ treat or prevent?

A. Being classified under Federal Law as an herbal supplement, no claims can be made that eResveratrol™ will prevent, cure or treat any disease. However, there is abundant evidence that virtually all diseases of aging will probably be shown to be helped, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, brain disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson, and multiple sclerosis.

Q. What evidence is there that eResveratrol™ improves health?

A. There are hundreds of published studies describing the health benefits of red wine and many stdudies showing resveratrol effective in animals Recently a proprietary formulation of resveratrol (Sirtris SRT501 was shown to lower serum glucose levels and insulin resistance in type II diabetics, the first solid evidence of the effectiveness of resveratrol in humans that it has an anti-aging effect.

Q. What effects can be expected when taking eResveratrol™?

A. Because of the mechanism of action (SIRT1 activation), at lower doses, there may be no obvious physical changes. At higher doses, body fat loss and increased exercise endurance may be observed. 

Q. Will eResveratrol make me lose weight?

A. When SIRT1 is activated, it turns off a gene called PPAR-gamma which allows fat to be deposited in fat cells. The effect is to reduce stored body fat. This accounts for the lower body fat of mice fed high doses of resveratrol. It is very likely that the same effect will occur in humans at comparable doses. However, whether such high doses (14-28 grams per day for an average man) are toxic or not is unknown.    

Q. Is eResveratrol safe for everyone?

A. Pregnant women and children are advised not to take eResveratrol™, as long term safety has not been established. It may increase bleeding time in people taking Coumadin, an anti-clotting drug use in some heart and stroke patients, and therefore should be used with caution and under a physician's supervision in these patients.

Q. Are there other reasons to not take eResveratrol™? 

A. eResveratrol might increase the action of certain blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes medications. The dose of these medications may need to be adjusted or eResveratrol may be contra-indicated.  

Q. When should eResveratrol be taken?

A. It can be taken at any time with or without food, but should not be taken at the same time as other medications.

Q. Does eResveratrol™ interfere with blood clotting?

A. Individuals taking blood-thinners such as Coumadin could see some effect on clotting time, and this should be watched for. 

Q. Does eResveratrol™ have estrogen-like effect?

A. Resveratrol has about 1/7000 the activity of estrogen, probably a negligible effect at the dose recommended.

Q. How safe is eResveratrol™?

A. It is non-toxic according to the EPA. In human clinical trials, it has shown no toxicity and it is non-toxic in animal tests at many times the recommended human dose.

Q. How stable is eResveratrol™?

A. Resveratrol occurs mainly as the biologically active trans- isomer, but can change to the inactive cis- version on exposure to light, heat and oxygen. For this  reason, the capsules are made in a nitrogen environment with an internal nitrogen bubble to prevent oxygen exposure.

Q. How is resveratrol metabolized?

A. On absorption in the gut and passage through the liver, resveratrol is attached to glucuronate or sulfate molecules, which prolong the duration of effect. The  bioavailability, or the amount of resveratrol which actually has an effect on your cells, is determined by a variety of factors. The reason to encapsulate eResveratrol™ in nitrogen containing capsules is to prevent oxidation and degradation to the inactive form of resveratrol, cis-resveratrol.