How Can Resveratrol Help High Blood Pressure? 

High Blood Pressure
Written By Dr. Ramiz Ahmed-Man

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure that stays high over time. Primary hypertension (also called essential hypertension) is the most common type, affecting about 90% of people with high blood pressure. If your blood pressure stays too high, you are much more likely to have serious health problems like strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease, and vision loss [1]. 

What is resveratrol? 

Resveratrol is a natural substance found in grapes, berries, and especially red wine. It was discovered in 1939, when scientists were trying to find out why the French population had low rates of heart disease, even though their diets were high in saturated fat [2, 3]. Resveratrol was believed to be part of the answer, and since then, many studies have looked into how it affects heart health. 

How can resveratrol help high blood pressure? 

Research has found that resveratrol interacts with a lot of different processes in the body in a positive way, however there are four key mechanisms [3]: 

1. Fights oxidative stress 

Oxidative stress is the damaging process that happen when the body is under stress from diseases such as hypertension or heart disease. Resveratrol helps by boosting enzymes which reduce oxidative stress. This is why it is often called an antioxidant. 

2. Reduces inflammation 

Inflammation within the blood vessels is big part of hypertension [4]. Resveratrol helps by reducing the activity of enzymes that cause inflammation.  

3. Boosts nitric oxide 

Nitric oxide is an important substance that helps blood vessels relax so blood pressure can lower. People with high blood pressure don’t make enough nitric oxide [5]. Resveratrol helps by boosting the enzyme which makes nitric oxide. 

4. Makes blood vessels less stiff 

In high blood pressure, blood vessels becoming stiff and narrow because the muscles inside the blood vessel walls become too thick [6]. Resveratrol can help stop this from happening.  

What evidence is there that resveratrol helps high blood pressure? 

So far, studies on resveratrol and blood pressure have only involved small groups of people. This means we can’t be fully sure about the results yet. However, a 2015 review of several studies found that resveratrol can lower one part of blood pressure—the pressure when the heart pumps [7]. Another similar review in 2019 found the same result but noted that the dose needed to be over 300 mg per day to be effective [8]. 

What could be the best dose? 

Resveratrol seems to help lower blood pressure at doses of 300 mg or more per day [8]. A daily dose of 450 mg (for someone weighing 60 kg) hasn’t shown any side effects [9]. But at 1000 mg per day, it may start to affect liver function [9]. Very high doses (2500 mg or more) have caused side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and liver problems [10]. 

Verdict: Start with 300 mg daily, but avoid going over 1000 mg. 

What could be the best regime? 

About 70% of resveratrol is absorbed in the gut, but only a small amount reaches the blood because the liver breaks much of it down [9]. Blood levels of resveratrol peak 30 to 90 minutes after taking it, and again around 6 hours later. This second peak may be because the gut reabsorbs some of the breakdown products [11, 12]. 

Verdict: Likely best taken 2 times per day, but not more than 3 times daily. 

What could be the best course length? 

A study in older adults found that taking 300–1000 mg of resveratrol daily for 3 months didn’t cause any adverse effects [13]. 

Verdict: Taking resveratrol at this dose for up to 3 months is least likely to cause problems. 

What could be the best form?  

Unfortunately, it is not really possible to get enough resveratrol from food alone to have an effect [11]. Resveratrol naturally occurs in two different forms, trans-resveratrol and cis-transveratrol, the difference being their slightly different chemical structure. However, trans-resveratrol is the form that has been studied the most [11]. Resveratrol seems to be more stable in liquid form, in acidic conditions and at low temperatures [9]. It may also be more effective when taken with other nutrients such as piperine (found in black pepper), vitamin C or vitamin D [9, 12]. Liposomal resveratrol is resveratrol molecules encased in tiny fat molecules, and this may increase its absorption [12].  

Verdict: Choose a trans-resveratrol supplement. Taking it with black pepper, or at the same time as taking any turmeric/black pepper, vitamin C or vitamin D supplements you might be taking may help it work better. 

When should resveratrol be avoided? 

  • Certain food allergies: Some resveratrol supplements are made from peanuts, pistachio nuts or soy. If you’re allergic, check the label and avoid those brands [11]. 

  • Breast, uterine, ovarian and cervical cancer: Resveratrol can sometimes act like oestrogen, which may fuel the growth of certain related cancers. If you have any of these cancers, it may be best to avoid resveratrol [14, 15].  

  • Surgery: Resveratrol may affect blood clotting. It should be avoided at least 2 weeks before and after surgery [14]. 

When should you be cautious? 

  • Endometriosis / Uterine fibroids: Resveratrol can act like oestrogen, which may affect conditions like endometriosis or uterine fibroids. If you have these, be cautious and consult a healthcare professional [14, 15]. 

  • Pregnancy, breast feeding and children: There isn’t enough research to confirm whether resveratrol is safe during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or in children, so it should be used with caution. 

  • Fatty liver disease: If you have fatty liver disease, resveratrol may harm the liver, though this has only been seen in doses above 2500 mg daily [10]. 

What medications interact with resveratrol? 

The mechanisms of how resveratrol interacts with drugs is still not fully explored, and more research is needed before anyone can confidently say what resveratrol does and does not interact with [I]. Nevertheless, drug interactions are more likely: 

  • Blood Pressure Medication: Resveratrol may lower blood pressure, so taking it with blood pressure medications (like ramipril, lisinopril, candesartan, losartan, amlodipine, and others) could lower it too much. Viagra (sildenafil) may have a similar effect. 

  • Blood Thinners: As resveratrol may affect blood clotting, it may also make blood thinners (like warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, aspirin, clopidogrel) more effective, increasing the risk of bleeding [10].  

  • Anti-oestrogen drugs: Resveratrol may weaken the power of tamoxifen, an anti-oestrogen drug [10].  

  • Certain pain killers: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen may have an increased risk of bleeding when taken with resveratrol. [10]. 

  • Drugs which are metabolised by CYP450 enzymes: Resveratrol may affect an enzyme in the liver that breaks down certain drugs, making them either too strong or too weak [14]. The list of drugs includes: 

  • Statins:  cholesterol-lowering medications. 

  • Theophylline:  used for respiratory conditions. 

  • Warfarin and Clopidogrel:  blood thinners. 

  • Sertraline, Citalopram and Fluoxetine:  antidepressants. 

  • Amitriptyline and Desipramine:  a neuropathic pain killer. 

  • Codeine:  an opioid pain killer. 

  • Caffeine: a stimulant. 

  • Lansoprazole and Omeprazole:  anti-acid medications. 

  • Dextromethorphan: a cough medicine. 

  • Nebivolol:  a heart failure and high blood pressure drug. 

  • Tolbutamide and Repaglinide: a diabetic drugs. 

  • Diazepam:  a sedative. 

  • Tizanidine: a drug for multiple sclerosis. 

Disclaimer and advice going forward 

The information above is for education and awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information above does not cover all possible interactions, adverse effects, precautions and uses. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before taking any supplement, herb or therapy or changing your medications.  

For personalised naturopathic advice and assessment of your health situation, you can book a free video call with Dr. Ramiz Ahmed-Man to enquire further.   

References 

  1. Feather A, Randall D, Waterhouse M, editors. Hypertension. In: Kumar and Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. Elsevier; 2020. p. 1133-1145.  

  2. Pezzuto JM. Resveratrol: Twenty Years of Growth, Development and Controversy. Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2019 Jan 1;27(1):1-14. doi: 10.4062/biomolther.2018.176. PMID: 30332889; PMCID: PMC6319551. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30332889/    

  3. Breuss JM, Atanasov AG, Uhrin P. Resveratrol and Its Effects on the Vascular System. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Mar 27;20(7):1523. doi: 10.3390/ijms20071523. PMID: 30934670; PMCID: PMC6479680. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6479680/    

  4. Rizzoni D, De Ciuceis C, Szczepaniak P, Paradis P, Schiffrin EL, Guzik TJ. Immune System and Microvascular Remodeling in Humans. Hypertension. 2022 Apr;79(4):691-705. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.17955. Epub 2022 Jan 31. PMID: 35098718. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35098718/    

  5. Bryan NS. Nitric oxide deficiency is a primary driver of hypertension. Biochem Pharmacol. 2022 Dec;206:115325. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115325. Epub 2022 Nov 5. PMID: 36349641. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36349641/    

  6. Schwartz SM. Smooth muscle proliferation in hypertension. State-of-the-art lecture. Hypertension. 1984 Mar-Apr;6(2 Pt 2):I56-61. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.6.2_pt_2.i56. PMID: 6724671. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6724671/    

  7. Liu Y, Ma W, Zhang P, He S, Huang D. Effect of resveratrol on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Nutr. 2015 Feb;34(1):27-34. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2014.03.009. Epub 2014 Mar 31. PMID: 24731650. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24731650/    

  8. Fogacci F, Tocci G, Presta V, Fratter A, Borghi C, Cicero AFG. Effect of resveratrol on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled, clinical trials. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019;59(10):1605-1618. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2017.1422480. Epub 2018 Jan 23. PMID: 29359958. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29359958/    

  9. Shaito A, Posadino AM, Younes N, Hasan H, Halabi S, Alhababi D, Al-Mohannadi A, Abdel-Rahman WM, Eid AH, Nasrallah GK, Pintus G. Potential Adverse Effects of Resveratrol: A Literature Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Mar 18;21(6):2084. doi: 10.3390/ijms21062084. PMID: 32197410; PMCID: PMC7139620. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7139620/ 

  10. Salehi B, Mishra AP, Nigam M, Sener B, Kilic M, Sharifi-Rad M, Fokou PVT, Martins N, Sharifi-Rad J. Resveratrol: A Double-Edged Sword in Health Benefits. Biomedicines. 2018 Sep 9;6(3):91. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines6030091. PMID: 30205595; PMCID: PMC6164842. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6164842/ 

  11. Zhang LX, Li CX, Kakar MU, Khan MS, Wu PF, Amir RM, Dai DF, Naveed M, Li QY, Saeed M, Shen JQ, Rajput SA, Li JH. Resveratrol (RV): A pharmacological review and call for further research. Biomed Pharmacother. 2021 Nov;143:112164. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112164. Epub 2021 Oct 2. PMID: 34649335. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332221009483  

  12. Pannu N, Bhatnagar A. Resveratrol: from enhanced biosynthesis and bioavailability to multitargeting chronic diseases. Biomed Pharmacother. 2019 Jan;109:2237-2251. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.075. Epub 2018 Nov 28. PMID: 30551481. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332221009483    

  13. Anton SD, Embry C, Marsiske M, Lu X, Doss H, Leeuwenburgh C, Manini TM. Safety and metabolic outcomes of resveratrol supplementation in older adults: results of a twelve-week, placebo-controlled pilot study. Exp Gerontol. 2014 Sep;57:181-7. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.05.015. Epub 2014 May 24. PMID: 24866496; PMCID: PMC4149922. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4149922/    

  14. WebMD. Resveratrol: Uses, side effects, and more. WebMD.com. [cited 2025 Mar 29]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-307/resveratrol    

  15. Bowers JL, Tyulmenkov VV, Jernigan SC, Klinge CM. Resveratrol acts as a mixed agonist/antagonist for estrogen receptors alpha and beta. Endocrinology. 2000 Oct;141(10):3657-67. doi: 10.1210/endo.141.10.7721. PMID: 11014220. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11014220/    

Dr. Ramiz Ahmed-Man

Dr. Ramiz is a qualified naturopath and medical doctor based in London. With his expertise, he helps clients improve their health using natural therapies, whilst also considering the benefits and limitation of conventional medicine. See also:

https://www.doctorramiz.com
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