Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: JCarterNZ on 11/04/2011 07:58:18
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Hi
I am after an effective antioxidant and immune system supporter. I’ve been taking resveratrol for a couple of months but don’t feel the promised effect. Can anyone recommend anything?
J
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What exactly did they promise?
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I’ve been taking resveratrol for a couple of months but don’t feel the promised effect. Can anyone recommend anything?
Resveratrol has not been tested in clinical trials, and most clinical trials of other antioxidants have failed to demonstrate the benefits suggested by preliminary studies. Some substances—most notably beta-carotene—have even produced adverse effects. My advice is to ignore the hype surrounding resveratrol and eat a balanced diet that contains adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables.
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/resveratrol.html
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What exactly did they promise?
Nothing specific, to be honest, but it’s advertised as a “natural remedy” and many nutritionists recommend it, so I’ve tried it.
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Resveratrol has not been tested in clinical trials, and most clinical trials of other antioxidants have failed to demonstrate the benefits suggested by preliminary studies. Some substances—most notably beta-carotene—have even produced adverse effects. My advice is to ignore the hype surrounding resveratrol and eat a balanced diet that contains adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables.
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/resveratrol.html
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Thanks for the link.
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Hi
I am after an effective antioxidant and immune system supporter. I’ve been taking resveratrol for a couple of months but don’t feel the promised effect. Can anyone recommend anything?
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Do you want an antioxidant for some particular reason? As I understand it, the evidence for anti-oxidant supplements in improving health generally in otherwise healthy people is rather poor.
http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab007176.html
On the other hand anti-oxidant supplements can serve a useful purpose in some circumstances (the first to catch my eye on the Cochrane site was for subfertility in males, but I'm sure there are others..)
http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab007411.html
There's an awful lot of money in selling dietary supplements in general, and often they are sold on the basis of "traditional use" rather than any evidence of efficacy. Also, some supplements may be useful for people who are actually not getting enough of something in their diet, but will serve little purpose (or even be harmful) for an individual who's eating a suitable balanced diet.
Note, of course, that very few of the posters to this site are medical professionals, and I'm not aware there are any dieticians. So any views expressed are lay-persons' opinions (I'm a chemist).
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Mod edit - I've merged these two identical threads.
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Hi
I am after an effective antioxidant and immune system supporter. I’ve been taking resveratrol for a couple of months but don’t feel the promised effect. Can anyone recommend anything?
Stop taking it.