Resveratrol Supplementation and its Potential Benefits in Obesity-related Non-communicable Diseases

Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in grapes, berries, and peanuts, has been linked to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasoprotective effects. Yet, evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remains inconsistent, and the quality, dosage, and cost of commercial resveratrol products vary considerably, raising uncertainty about their true efficacy. A comprehensive synthesis of its effects on obesity-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is therefore warranted. Given that obesity is a key driver of metabolic dysregulation underlying diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease, clarifying resveratrol's potential in overweight and obese populations is of particular importance.

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for RCTs published up to July 2025 that evaluated resveratrol supplementation in adults with obesity-related metabolic disorders or associated risk factors. Study selection and data extraction followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Pooled estimates were calculated using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was assessed with the I² statistic.

Forty RCTs involving 2551 participants were included. Resveratrol significantly reduced the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). No consistent changes were observed for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), fat mass, hip circumference (BC), waist circumference (WC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), or liver fat. To our knowledge, this meta-analysis includes the largest number of RCTs to date and the most comprehensive coverage of obesity-related metabolic and inflammatory endpoints. Effect sizes varied by intervention dose and duration.

Resveratrol supplementation shows modest benefits on selected metabolic and inflammatory parameters but does not exert broad effects across all obesity-related NCD risk factors. Its potential role may be most relevant in populations with metabolic disturbances. Large-scale, long-term RCTs are warranted to clarify optimal dosing strategies and establish its utility in the prevention and management of obesity-related non-communicable diseases.