Evidence Level
Resveratrol gained fame from the "French Paradox" hypothesis and has since been studied in over 200 clinical trials. A comprehensive meta-analysis by Koushki et al. (2019, 17 RCTs, n=736) confirmed significant reductions in CRP and TNF-alpha. For metabolic health, Mousavi et al. (2019, 28 RCTs) demonstrated improvements in glucose, insulin, and HbA1c in diabetic patients. The primary challenge is low oral bioavailability (~1-2%), with extensive first-pass metabolism converting resveratrol to glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. However, these metabolites may also have biological activity. Newer formulations (micronized, liposomal) aim to improve absorption. Resveratrol remains one of the most promising anti-inflammatory polyphenols with multi-target activity.