Resveratrol

Pronunciation: rez-VER-uh-trol.

Generic name
resveratrol (trans-resveratrol)
Drug class
Plant polyphenol (stilbenoid); dietary/food supplement -- not a licensed medicine
Form
Capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid supplement, in widely varying, manufacturer-determined concentrations
Route
Oral
Legal status
Available over-the-counter as a dietary/food supplement in all 6 markets reviewed; not a prescription or licensed OTC medicine anywhere

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand

Australia: Resveratrol (ARTG 527811, Nature's Body Health) (5), Pure Resveratrol (ARTG 441995, Genetic Labs Australia) (5) · Full directory

What resveratrol (trans-resveratrol) is and how it works

Resveratrol is a natural plant compound (a polyphenol) found in red grape skins, red wine, peanuts, and Japanese knotweed, sold as an over-the-counter dietary/food supplement. It is not an approved medicine anywhere -- it has no FDA, MHRA, EMA, Health Canada, TGA, or Medsafe drug approval for treating or preventing any disease. (7) (8)

Marketing for resveratrol often emphasises antioxidant, anti-aging, and cardiovascular claims drawn largely from laboratory and animal studies. Human clinical evidence is real but genuinely mixed and more modest: some trials at higher doses (150 mg/day or more) have shown modest improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar markers, but results are inconsistent across studies, partly because resveratrol is poorly absorbed by the human body. At higher supplement doses, resveratrol can also interact with certain medicines, including blood thinners, by affecting the liver enzymes that clear them.

Mechanism of action: how resveratrol (trans-resveratrol) works

Resveratrol (trans-resveratrol) is a stilbenoid polyphenol studied for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and sirtuin-activating properties in preclinical models. Human oral bioavailability is poor, with extensive first-pass metabolism, which is widely cited as a key reason human clinical trial results are less consistent and less dramatic than early laboratory/animal findings. At higher supplemental doses, resveratrol inhibits cytochrome P450 enzymes including CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2D6, and exerts a mild antiplatelet effect. (8) (7)

What resveratrol (trans-resveratrol) is used for

General antioxidant / dietary supplement use

Marketed as a general antioxidant dietary supplement. Regulators including the EU's EFSA have not approved specific antioxidant or anti-aging health claims for resveratrol due to insufficient scientific substantiation at the food-constituent level -- these are marketing claims, not approved medical uses. (3)

Cardiovascular and metabolic health support (investigated, not an approved treatment)

Some clinical trials, particularly at doses of 150 mg/day or higher, have found modest reductions in blood pressure and improvements in cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood-sugar markers, especially in people with type 2 diabetes. This reflects trial-level findings from a mixed evidence base, not an approved treatment or a guarantee of individual benefit -- always discuss any specific health goal with your clinician rather than relying on a supplement alone. (7)

Before taking resveratrol (trans-resveratrol)

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Not recommended for children. (United Kingdom, and a common caution across markets reviewed) (2)
  • Not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. (United Kingdom) (2)
  • Use particular caution if you take warfarin or other blood-thinning (anticoagulant/antiplatelet) medicines -- resveratrol can raise bleeding risk through both a drug-metabolism interaction and its own mild antiplatelet effect. (all countries) (8)

Tell your clinician about

  • Whether you take warfarin, any other anticoagulant, or an antiplatelet medicine (such as aspirin or clopidogrel), since resveratrol may increase bleeding risk when combined with these.
  • Any other prescription medicines you take, since higher-dose resveratrol can affect liver enzymes (CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2D6) involved in metabolising roughly half of all prescription drugs.
  • Whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering giving a supplement to a child.
  • That you are taking resveratrol at all, since it is a supplement your clinician may not otherwise know about -- this matters for any planned surgery or new prescription.
(8) (2)

How to take resveratrol (trans-resveratrol)

  • Resveratrol is a supplement, not a prescribed medicine -- there is no single regulator-approved dose for any specific health condition.
  • The UK/EU Novel Food framework sets a maximum daily intake of 150 mg for adults; doses used in clinical trials have varied widely, and higher doses (1 g/day or more) carry a greater chance of a drug interaction.
  • Follow the manufacturer's label directions and discuss the appropriate dose, if any, with your clinician or pharmacist, especially if you take other medicines.
  • Because supplement strength and purity are not independently verified to the same standard as a licensed medicine in any of the 6 markets reviewed, actual resveratrol content can vary between brands and batches.
(2) (7)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

Missed dose

As a supplement without a prescribed treatment schedule, there is no clinical guidance to give for a missed dose. If you are taking resveratrol as part of a specific plan discussed with a clinician, follow their advice.

Overdose

There is no regulator-defined overdose threshold for resveratrol as there would be for a licensed medicine. Very high doses have been associated with gastrointestinal upset in some studies, and with a greater chance of liver-enzyme-mediated drug interactions. Seek medical advice if you experience concerning symptoms after taking a large amount of any supplement. (8)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

Mild gastrointestinal upset, such as nausea or diarrhoea, particularly at higher doses.

What to notice: Mild gastrointestinal upset, such as nausea or diarrhoea, particularly at higher doses.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (7)

Generally well tolerated in healthy adults not taking interacting medicines, according to the clinical evidence reviewed.

What to notice: Generally well tolerated in healthy adults not taking interacting medicines, according to the clinical evidence reviewed.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (8)

Serious warnings

Signs of increased bleeding while taking warfarin or another blood thinner — high caution

Symptoms: Unusual bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in urine or stool, or unusually heavy bleeding from a cut.

Action: Contact your clinician promptly or seek emergency care -- resveratrol can raise blood levels of warfarin and other interacting medicines by affecting liver enzymes, and has its own mild antiplatelet effect, both of which can add to bleeding risk. Your clinician will advise whether to stop the supplement. (8)

Unexpected changes in how a prescription medicine is working — moderate caution

Symptoms: New or worsening side effects from a prescription medicine, or a medicine seeming unusually strong or weak, after starting resveratrol.

Action: Tell your clinician or pharmacist that you have started resveratrol, since it can inhibit liver enzymes involved in metabolising roughly half of all prescription drugs. (8)

Interactions

  • Warfarin and other anticoagulants: resveratrol can inhibit the liver enzymes (CYP2C9, CYP3A4) that clear warfarin, potentially raising warfarin blood levels and INR, and adds its own antiplatelet effect -- together these raise bleeding risk. (8)
  • Other medicines metabolised by CYP3A4, CYP2C9, or CYP2D6 (a large proportion of all prescription drugs) may reach higher blood levels when combined with higher-dose resveratrol. (8)
  • Antiplatelet medicines (such as aspirin or clopidogrel): combining with resveratrol's own mild antiplatelet effect may further increase bleeding risk. (8)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

Not recommended during pregnancy, per UK Food Standards Agency guidance associated with its Novel Food authorisation; safety in pregnancy has not been established to a medicine-level standard in any market reviewed. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

Breastfeeding

Not recommended while breastfeeding, per UK Food Standards Agency guidance; not independently evaluated to a medicine-level standard elsewhere. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

Children

Not recommended for children, per UK Food Standards Agency guidance; pediatric safety and dosing have not been established to a medicine-level standard in any market reviewed. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

Elderly

No specific regulator dosing guidance identified for older adults; general caution around drug interactions applies, particularly for those on multiple prescription medicines. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

Hepatic_impairment

No specific regulator dosing guidance identified; given resveratrol's effect on liver drug-metabolising enzymes, discuss use with a clinician if you have liver disease. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Review of all current prescription medicines, especially anticoagulants/antiplatelets and any medicine with a narrow therapeutic window
  • Discussion with a clinician if pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering use in a child

During treatment

  • Watch for unusual bruising or bleeding if you take warfarin or another blood thinner.
  • Report any new or worsening side effects from other prescription medicines to your clinician, since resveratrol can alter how some drugs are cleared from the body.
(8)

Storage

Store according to the product label; as with any supplement, keep out of reach of children and check the expiry date.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Resveratrol is a supplement, not an approved medicine, in every market reviewed; no regulator-approved prescribing information exists to cite. Content here reflects the peer-reviewed clinical-trial and pharmacology literature reviewed for this dossier.

United Kingdom, European Union

Indication: General supplement use (Novel Food framework)

Dose summary: Maximum daily intake of 150 mg for adults under the Novel Food authorisation; not recommended for children, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.

Renal context: Not specifically addressed in the sources reviewed. (2)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Affects hepatic drug-metabolising enzymes (CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2D6) at higher supplemental doses; use caution in combination with medicines metabolised by these pathways.

Overdose note

No established medicine-level overdose threshold or antidote; management of any concerning symptoms after high-dose ingestion would be supportive and symptomatic. (8) (7)

Frequently asked questions

Is resveratrol FDA-approved or a real medicine?

No. Resveratrol is sold as a dietary/food supplement in the United States and every other market reviewed for this page (UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand). It does not have FDA drug approval, an EMA/MHRA marketing authorisation, or any equivalent medicine-level approval anywhere -- regulators evaluate it as a supplement, novel food, natural health product, or listed complementary medicine, not as a treatment for any specific disease. (1) (2)

Does resveratrol actually slow aging or extend lifespan in humans?

Dramatic anti-aging and lifespan-extension effects have mainly been shown in animal and laboratory studies. Human clinical trials show more modest results, mainly some improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic markers at higher doses, and results are inconsistent across studies -- partly because resveratrol is poorly absorbed by the human body. No human trial has established that resveratrol extends lifespan. (7)

Can I take resveratrol with my other medicines?

Possibly not safely, depending on what you take. Resveratrol, especially at higher doses, can inhibit liver enzymes that clear many prescription medicines, and can increase bleeding risk if combined with warfarin or other blood thinners. Always tell your clinician or pharmacist about any supplement you are taking or considering. (8)

Is resveratrol regulated the same way in every country?

No -- oversight varies genuinely by country. Canada requires a Health Canada Natural Health Product licence (NPN) issued against a specific ingredient monograph before sale. Australia's 'Listed' (AUST L) pathway lets the sponsor self-certify compliance, without the TGA independently evaluating each product beforehand. The US, UK/EU, and New Zealand frameworks reviewed do not require this kind of ingredient-specific pre-market licence. (4) (5)

What is the mechanism of action of resveratrol (trans-resveratrol)?

Resveratrol (trans-resveratrol) is a stilbenoid polyphenol studied for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and sirtuin-activating properties in preclinical models. Human oral bioavailability is poor, with extensive first-pass metabolism, which is widely cited as a key reason human clinical trial results are less consistent and less dramatic than early laboratory/animal findings. At higher supplemental doses, resveratrol inhibits cytochrome P450 enzymes including CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2D6, and exerts a mild antiplatelet effect. (8) (7)

What is the generic name of Resveratrol?

The generic name is resveratrol (trans-resveratrol). (1) (7)

What class of drug is resveratrol (trans-resveratrol)?

Resveratrol is classed as: Plant polyphenol (stilbenoid); dietary/food supplement -- not a licensed medicine. (1) (7)

References

  1. Dietary Supplements -- FDA consumer guidance and regulatory frameworkU.S. Food and Drug Administration -- dietary supplement regulatory framework (DSHEA) · United States · accessed 2026-07-31 · source 1
  2. Trans-resveratrol -- Novel Food authorisation and maximum daily intake guidanceUK Food Standards Agency (FSA) -- Novel Food authorisation framework · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-31 · source 2
  3. Guidance/scientific opinions on health claims related to antioxidants, oxidative damage, and cardiovascular healthEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA) -- health claims scientific opinions under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 · European Union · accessed 2026-07-31 · source 3
  4. Resveratrol -- Natural Health Product ingredient monographHealth Canada -- Natural Health Products Directorate / Natural Health Products Ingredients Database · Canada · accessed 2026-07-31 · source 4
  5. Resveratrol (ARTG 527811); Pure Resveratrol (ARTG 441995) -- Listed complementary medicinesTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia -- Listed complementary medicines (AUST L) · Australia · accessed 2026-07-31 · source 5
  6. Regulation of Dietary SupplementsMedsafe (New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) -- Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985 · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-31 · source 6
  7. Effects of resveratrol supplementation on multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trialsNutrition Journal (Springer Nature) -- peer-reviewed umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses · International (human clinical evidence) · accessed 2026-07-31 · source 7
  8. Drug interaction potential of resveratrolPubMed-indexed pharmacology literature -- drug interaction potential of resveratrol · International (pharmacology evidence) · accessed 2026-07-31 · source 8

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient resveratrol (trans-resveratrol) names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • Multiple over-the-counter dietary supplement brands (1)DSHEA regulated no FDA drug approval · variable, unregulated concentrations across brands · various dietary supplement manufacturers

United Kingdom

  • Multiple food-supplement brands (2)FSA authorised novel food max 150mg day adults not MHRA licensed · variable across brands, subject to 150 mg/day FSA maximum for adults · various food-supplement manufacturers

Canada

  • Multiple NPN-licensed Natural Health Product brands (4)Health Canada NHP licensed against dedicated monograph · per individual product licence · various NHP licence holders

Australia

  • Resveratrol (ARTG 527811, Nature's Body Health) (5)TGA Listed AUST L active · not fully specified in source · Nature's Body Health
  • Pure Resveratrol (ARTG 441995, Genetic Labs Australia) (5)TGA Listed AUST L active · not fully specified in source · Genetic Labs Australia

New Zealand

  • Multiple dietary supplement brands (6)sold under Dietary Supplements Regulations 1985 no preapproval · not fully specified in source · various dietary supplement sponsors
View brands in additional countries.

European Union

Multiple food-supplement brands (per member state) (3)