Resveratrol and the treatment of osteoarthritis | The research

Marion Hauser Resveratrol and osteoarthritisMarion Hauser, MS, RD

Resveratrol, in simple terms, is a chemical compound found in some plants that provides that plant a super antioxidant protector from oxidative stress and infections. What stresses a plant, you may ask? Disease, fungus, environmental pollutants to name a few.

The remarkable nature of Resveratrol has made this chemical compound somewhat of a “researcher’s darling.” In October 2018 alone, there were at least 25 new studies published on Resveratrol and its impact on cancer, oxidative stress, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes to name a few of the main topics covered. There have also been a handful of studies throughout the last few years that have focused solely on Resveratrol’s impact on inflammation and osteoarthritis. For our purpose, we will focus on the research that centers on joint pain.

Resveratrol is most famous for  the “French Paradox.” Red wine and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease

Resveratrol has been studied extensively for supplementation in humans. Many of you will remember that Resveratrol was first brought to the attention of the public in a series of studies and news stories in the late 1980s surrounding the “French Paradox.” Here doctors wanted to know why there was such a low incidence rate of cardiovascular disease in the French population who regularly consumed high saturated fat diets.

It should be noted that the theory was promoted and sponsored by winemakers and has since had numerous studies promoting and questioning the “French Paradox” theory that red wine consumption is beneficial. However, research in Resveratrol continues to show benefits and the interest in Resveratrol could not be stronger as attested to by the numerous ongoing studies.

Foods that are rich in Resveratrol other than red wine include Peanuts, pistachios, cranberries, strawberries, almonds, and berries.

The research on Resveratrol and joint pain

University researchers publishing in the medical journal Molecular Medicine Reports (1had a lot of good things to say about Resveratrol.

Understanding inflammation and healing so you can understand how Resveratrol can help.

In our practice inflammation is THE tool to fix damaged joints. We control the inflammation through our regenerative injection techniques. We create healing inflammation that stimulates the body’s natural healing response of quick, powerful inflammation bursts that heal damaged joints. Once the healing job is done, the inflammation shuts down. The most obvious clue that healing has occurred is that the swelling goes away.

Inflammation becomes bad when the swelling does not go away. Healing is not occurring. Yet the body continues to try to heal the only way it knows how, with inflammation and swelling. When swelling becomes chronic, the inflammatory factors that are beneficial to quickly heal, become corrosive over the long term, eroding joints.

Chronic inflammation is your body’s attempt to try to heal something it may not be able to, such as advanced degenerative joint disease. The swelling of inflammation, once a protective tool, now becomes painful and typically sends the person off to chronic anti-inflammatory pain medications.

Resveratrol can act as a natural anti-inflammatory.

Resveratrol helps by acting as an anti-inflammatory. It should be noted however that it does not repair damaged tissue, its beneficial claim is that it helps stop the erosion.

How?

Resveratrol can reduce tissue damage

In the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture,(2) doctors at the University of Padova, (yes that Padova in Italy known for its vineyards that produce several high-quality red wines), examined several animal studies that measured the effects of Resveratrol on rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. They noted interesting results in terms of reduced tissue damage, restored cartilage homeostasis (cartilage stability), and decreased levels of uric acid (the problems with gout).

Of course, the French make great wine as well. Leading French researchers, writing in the journal Nutrients,(3) found that in rheumatoid arthritis, evidence suggests that resveratrol displayed anti-inflammatory, anti-catabolic (prevents breakdown), anti-apoptotic (prevents cell death) in various articular (cartilage) cell types, including chondrocytes (cartilage building blocks) and synoviocytes (the cells that regulate inflammation in the synovial fluid of joints). In preclinical models of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, resveratrol has shown joint protective effects, mainly mediated by decreased production of pro-inflammatory and pro-degradative factors.

A May 2020 study in the journal Cells (4) comes to us from Italy. It confirmed the benefits of the resveratrol I mentioned above. Here are the summary learning points:

Why your doctor may recommend Resveratrol and meloxicam

Your doctor or health care provider may recommend that you consider 500mg of Resveratrol with your meloxicam (anti-inflammatory) prescription.

In August 2018, doctors published research in the Journal of Medicinal Foods, where they measured the beneficial response of taking 500 mg per day resveratrol against placebo as an adjuvant or companion medication to make the meloxicam work better. An examination of one hundred ten men and women (45-75 years old) diagnosed with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis found that resveratrol may be an effective “add-on” option as the resveratrol-treated group experienced a time-dependent (gradual but) significant decrease in pain severity. (5)

Why your doctor may recommend Resveratrol and other nutrients

Resveratrol and curcumin

The Curcumin family (curcuminoids), compounds of the spice turmeric, display an ability to alleviate and possibly stop osteoarthritis progression.

European researchers publishing in the medical journal Springerplus noted that the combination treatment of curcumin and resveratrol produced a synergistic effect. The two nutraceuticals worked in collaboration to shut off chronic destructive inflammation. (6)

For more about Turmeric/Curcumin please see my article curcumin and osteoarthritis.

Resveratrol and ginger

Resveratrol in strawberries

Please see my other articles on nutrition and chronic joint pain

Do you have questions about obesity and osteoarthritis? You can get help and information from our Caring Medical staff.

1 Wei Y, Jia J, Jin X, Tong W, Tian H. Resveratrol ameliorates inflammatory damage and protects against osteoarthritis in a rat model of osteoarthritis. Molecular Medicine Reports. 2018 Jan 1;17(1):1493-8. [Google Scholar]
2 Oliviero F, Scanu A, Zamudio‐Cuevas Y, Punzi L, Spinella P. Anti‐inflammatory effects of polyphenols in arthritis. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2018 Mar;98(5):1653-9. [Google Scholar]
3 Nguyen C, Savouret JF, Widerak M, Corvol MT, Rannou F. Resveratrol, potential therapeutic interest in joint disorders: a critical narrative Review. Nutrients. 2017 Jan 6;9(1):45. [Google Scholar]
4 D’Adamo S, Cetrullo S, Panichi V, Mariani E, Flamigni F, Borzì RM. Nutraceutical Activity in Osteoarthritis Biology: A Focus on the Nutrigenomic Role. Cells. 2020 May;9(5):1232. [Google Scholar]
5 Marouf BH, Hussain SA, Ali ZS, Ahmmad RS. Resveratrol Supplementation Reduces Pain and Inflammation in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients Treated with Meloxicam: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. Journal of medicinal food. 2018 Aug 30. [Google Scholar]
6 Henrotin Y, Priem F, Mobasheri A. Curcumin: a new paradigm and therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of osteoarthritis: curcumin for osteoarthritis management. Springerplus. 2013 Dec 1;2(1):56. [Google Scholar]
7 Nieman DC, Shanely RA, Luo B, Dew D, Meaney MP, Sha W. A commercialized dietary supplement alleviates joint pain in community adults: a double-blind, placebo-controlled community trial. Nutrition journal. 2013 Nov 25;12(1):154. [Google Scholar]

This article was update January 17, 2021

Make an Appointment |

Subscribe to E-Newsletter |

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
SEARCH
for your symptoms
Prolotherapy, an alternative to surgery
Were you recommended SURGERY?
Get a 2nd opinion now!
WHY TO AVOID:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★We pride ourselves on 5-Star Patient Service!See why patients travel from all
over the world to visit our center.
Current Patients
Become a New Patient

Caring Medical Florida
9738 Commerce Center Ct.
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 308-4701 Phone
(855) 779-1950 Fax

Hauser Neck Center
9734 Commerce Center Ct.
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 308-4701 Phone
(855) 779-1950 Fax
We are an out-of-network provider. Treatments discussed on this site may or may not work for your specific condition.
© 2023 | All Rights Reserved | Disclaimer