Latest RESHAW findings show improvements of quality of life in postmenopausal women

Photo © iStockphoto.com/Jacob Wackerhausen

The fourth and final published findings¹ from the RESHAW (Resveratrol Supporting Healthy Aging in Women) clinical study, shows that daily supplementation with the branded resveratrol Veri-te (Evolva; Reinach, Switzerland) was associated with improvements in pain perception, postmenopausal symptoms, and overall wellbeing. The study was conducted in Australia at the University of Newcastle’s Clinical Nutrition Research Center.

In the 24-month randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial, 125 postmenopausal women between the ages of 45 and 85 took either75 mg of resveratrol or placebo twice daily for 12 months, then crossed over the alternative for another 12 months. Participants completed six questionnaires assessing their perception on general well-being, including pain, mood, depressive symptoms, menopausal symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life at baseline, 12, and 24-month intervals.

Results showed that supplementation significantly reduced chronic pain in age-related osteoarthritis and improved menopause-related quality of life in postmenopausal women. Compared to placebo, the two-year crossover comparison of resveratrol supplementation reduced composite pain scores by 18%.

“Within the same study, we observed reductions in vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats) and other somatic symptoms (heart discomfort, sleep problems, muscle, and joint discomfort) with resveratrol supplementation,” states the study’s co-author and PhD candidate Jay Jay Thaung Zaw, in a press release.

“Although the cause of vasomotor systems is not completely understood, it is postulated that declining estrogen levels may be a factor,” added co-author and Emeritus Professor Peter Howe. “Supplementation with resveratrol, a phytoestrogen with circulatory benefits, may improve aspects of well-being including chronic pain and reduce vasomotor symptoms.”

Since the completion of the RESHAW clinical trial, resveratrol was found to a number of important health factors in postmenopausal women, including bone mineral density, and cognitive health. “These positive findings prove that there is an immediate need for products to be developed following the investigated dosage of 75 mg of Veri-te resveratrol twice daily, that can fill the market gap for this much-needed product development to support women’s health,” said Clare Panchoo, vice president, Health Ingredients, Evolva, in a press release.

Reference

1. Thaung Zaw JJ et al. “Long-term resveratrol supplementation improves pain perception, menopausal symptoms, and overall well-being in postmenopausal women findings from a 24-month randomized, controlled, crossover trial.” Menopause, Published online August 31, 2020 ahead of print