Clinical evidence of resveratrol bioactivity in cardiovascular disease

• Resveratrol has shown cardioprotective effects in preclinical studies.
• Human clinical trials have demonstrated resveratrol's beneficial effects in CVD.
• Resveratrol can also be used with standard drugs in adjuvant CVD therapy.
• Variability in study conditions and subjects may affect resveratrol treatment outcomes.
• Resveratrol appears to be most effective in cases where CVD is a co-morbidity.

Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene) is a phytoalexin that is predominantly found in grapes, peanuts, berries, and related food products. The stilbenoid has been shown to exhibit extensive cardioprotective activities in preclinical studies. However, there is a limited clinical evidence to support the wide range of claimed health benefits. Herein, we review available clinical intervention studies with resveratrol against cardiovascular disease. Notable discrepancies in most clinical trials are attributable to differences in factors such as resveratrol doses, experimental conditions, protocols, and variations in the subjects. Nevertheless, some promising clinical studies have provided evidence to support the cardioprotective role of resveratrol. In order to improve the clinical efficacy of resveratrol, it is suggested that its physiological delivery, stability and bioavailability need to be enhanced to facilitate its application as a nutraceutical in cardiovascular disease management and treatment.