Key Points
- Resveratrol improved cognitive scores
- Magnesium levels increased in the resveratrol group
- The resveratrol group showed a drop in diastolic blood pressure
- Quality-of-life scores improved more in the resveratrol group
- Menopause-related symptoms improved across all four MENQOL categories
Study Overview
Eighty-eight postmenopausal women (average age 52 years) with mild high blood pressure were randomized into two groups:
- Resveratrol group: 55 women took their usual blood pressure medication plus 500 mg trans-resveratrol daily for 3 months
- Comparison group: 33 women took only their usual blood pressure medication for 3 months
Resveratrol Improved Micronutrient and Blood Pressure Markers
Magnesium levels increased in the women taking resveratrol, suggesting resveratrol could support gut health and magnesium metabolism more effectively.
“Under the influence of resveratrol, a positive trend was observed in serum magnesium levels.”
Systolic blood pressure (top number) dropped significantly in both groups, but only the resveratrol group also saw a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure (bottom number).
“Diastolic BP decreased significantly only in group I under the influence of resveratrol.”
Cognitive Performance Improved
At the beginning of the study, most women had signs of mild cognitive dysfunction on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test.
“After three months of resveratrol administration, a positive trend in cognitive function was observed.”
The resveratrol group showed a clear improvement in cognitive scores:
- Resveratrol group: MoCA increased from 23.74 to 25.92
- Comparison group: MoCA remained unchanged at 25.25
These findings echo earlier clinical work showing that resveratrol can support brain systems that become more vulnerable after menopause.
Quality of Life Scores Were Higher
Quality of life was measured using the EQ-5D-3L general health assessment and improved in both groups, though the resveratrol group improved more.
Women taking resveratrol reported better overall health, more energy, less fatigue, and better day-to-day functioning.
“Patients who took resveratrol reported a reduction in fatigue, increased energy levels, and improved performance… This was accompanied by a significant improvement in quality-of-life indicators.”
Subjectively, women in the resveratrol group more frequently reported reduced fatigue, increased energy, and improved performance.
Menopause Symptoms Eased
The MENQOL questionnaire assesses menopause-specific quality of life across four domains where higher scores mean worse symptoms.
“At the beginning of the study, the entire cohort reported night sweats, anxiety/nervousness, and difficulty sleeping.”
After three months, the resveratrol group saw significant improvements across all four domains, while the comparison group saw no statistically significant changes in any.
“The study group showed positive dynamics in the vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual domains.”
Conclusion
These findings suggest that resveratrol may help support systems affected by aging and menopause, including brain function, blood vessel function, mitochondrial health, and quality of life.
“The results of the clinical study demonstrate the positive effect of trans-resveratrol at a dose of 500 mg per day on cognitive functioning according to the MoCA test and quality of life according to the EQ-5D-3L and MENQOL questionnaires.”
The authors conclude that resveratrol may have a role in supporting women through both biological and reproductive aging:
“The use of resveratrol can counteract age-related and reproductive aging-related cognitive decline in women.”
