I saw something interesting at Costco today, called Reversitall, selling for about $20 a bottle. This product is brand new, according to a press release by NeoCell:
NeoCell Corporation will formally launch Reversitall Plus™ made from selected food grade ingredients including patent-pending Reversitall™ at this week’s Natural Products Expo West. Reversitall™ is the newest nutraceuticals ingredient, supported by Phase I of on-going clinical studies, scientifically proven to reduce cell oxidation, deliver higher anti-oxidant activities and reduce SOD (super-oxide dismutase) activities by 35%. Reversitall Plus™ is a unique blend of alcohol-free red wine, Muscadine grapes, grape cluster stems and grapevine extracts. Utilizing proprietary technology that allows the nutrients to remain intact, these combined components create a highly anti-oxidative supplement with naturally occurring Trans-Resveratrol, Trans-e-Viniferin, OPC’s and polyphenols, making it possible to obtain all of the benefits of red wine in a daily dietary supplement.
The big win is that in two tablespoons of Reversitall you can the same amount of Resveratrol as in an entire bottle of red wine, that is about 2,000 micrograms (mcg). For those not in the know, Resveratrol is identified as the primary anti-oxidant and anti-cancer ingredient in red wine, thought to be responsible for the so-called “French Paradox:”
Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by bacteria or fungi. Phytoalexins are antibacterial and anti-fungal chemicals produced by plants as a defense against infection by pathogens. Resveratrol has also been produced by chemical synthesis, and is sold as a nutritional supplement derived primarily from Japanese knotweed. A number of beneficial health effects, such as anti-cancer, antiviral, neuroprotective, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory effects have been reported, but all of these studies are “in-vitro” (test tube) or in yeast, worms, fruit flies, fish, mice, and rats. Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and is a constituent of red wine but, based on extrapolation from animal trials, apparently not in sufficient amounts to explain the “French paradox” that the incidence of coronary heart disease is relatively low in southern France despite high dietary intake of saturated fats.
But, is it really good for you? According to QuackWatch, the notorious critic of “nutritional supplements” notes that “…studies in animals and humans are necessary to determine whether resveratrol supplementation makes sense.” Still, I think I’ll try the bottle. Any readers want to comment?
