Resveratrol
The grape-skin compound behind the "red wine is good for you" headlines. Human trials are mixed.
Resveratrol is a polyphenol found in grape skins, red wine, and Japanese knotweed, and it built its reputation on strong laboratory evidence around cellular ageing pathways. Human trial results have been considerably less consistent than the lab data suggested, largely because resveratrol is broken down and cleared from the body quickly, so blood levels barely rise on standard trans-resveratrol. Pterostilbene, a structurally similar compound, is absorbed better and stays active in the body longer, which is why it increasingly appears as an alternative on its own rather than alongside resveratrol.
Reference values
Daily reference values from official nutrition authorities. These are population reference figures, not personal recommendations.
| RDA | Upper limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 500 mg | 1500 mg | UK |
Forms and bioavailability
Not all forms are absorbed equally. The form on your supplement label affects how much your body can actually use.
| Form | Absorption | With food | Timing | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trans-resveratrol | Lower | With food | Either | Possible |
| pterostilbene | Higher | With food | Either | Possible |
Stack Almanac tracks whether you're taking resveratrol or pterostilbene, since the two behave differently in the body despite their near-identical structure.
Track your Resveratrol in Stack Almanac
Last reviewed: 2026-07-08. Reference values are adult-general RDAs from UK. Individual needs may vary. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.