Resveratrol could impede benefits of exercise

Contrary to popular belief, adding resveratrol (RSV) to your exercise routine may not enhance the effects of physical activity, said a study.

Resveratrol occurs naturally in the skin of red grapes and it is common to recommend RSV supplements to complement exercise and enhance performance.

RSV may actually impede the body's response to training, the findings showed.

"The data set we recorded during this study clearly demonstrates that RSV supplementation does not augment training, but may impair the affect it has on the body," said Brendon Gurd, professor at Queen's University in Canada.

"The efficacy of RSV at improving metabolic and cardio-vascular functions is not as profound as was once thought," Gurd added.

Recently, it has become possible to purchase RSV supplements, which are often marketed as 'exercise mimics'.

For the study, sixteen participants, who engaged in less than three hours of aerobic exercise per week at the time of enrolment were asked to perform high-intensity interval training (HIIT) three times per week for four weeks.

During this time, participants were administered daily doses of either RSV or a placebo.

Results after the four-week study showed that RSV supplementation may actually oppose the effects of exercise.

The placebo group, on the other hand, showed an increase in some of the benefits associated with physical activity as opposed to the group taking RSV.

This research was published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.