From the Guidelines
Resveratrol is not recommended as a primary weight loss supplement. The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2025, states that nutritional supplements, including resveratrol, have not been shown to be effective for weight loss and are not recommended 1. While some laboratory studies suggest resveratrol may affect fat metabolism and energy expenditure, clinical evidence in humans is limited and inconsistent. Typical supplement doses range from 250-500mg daily, but no standardized effective dose for weight loss has been established.
If you're considering resveratrol for weight loss, understand that it should not replace proven weight management strategies like calorie restriction and regular physical activity. Resveratrol is a polyphenol found naturally in red wine, grapes, and berries that has antioxidant properties and may influence certain metabolic pathways. However, its effects on weight are modest at best, and some studies show no significant impact on body weight in humans.
Some key points to consider for weight loss, as recommended by the 2025 study, include:
- Continuing interventions to maintain weight goals long term, with monthly contact and support, frequent self-monitoring of body weight, and regular physical activity (200–300 min/week) 1
- Short-term nutrition intervention using structured, very-low-calorie meals (800–1,000 kcal/day) should be prescribed only to carefully selected individuals by trained practitioners in medical settings with close monitoring 1
- Reducing processed and ultraprocessed food intake is also an encouraging area of ongoing weight loss research 1
Additionally, resveratrol supplements can interact with blood thinners and certain medications, so consult with a healthcare provider before starting supplementation, especially if you have existing health conditions or take other medications. Other studies, such as those published in 2023 1, 2024 1, and 2022 1, also support the idea that nutritional supplements, including resveratrol, are not effective for weight loss and should not be recommended.
From the Research
Resveratrol and Weight Loss
- Resveratrol is a polyphenol that may improve weight loss outcomes in obese individuals, however, the effectiveness of resveratrol supplementations as an appropriate intervention for weight loss in obesity is complicated by variability in trial design 2.
- A systematic review of dietary supplements and alternative therapies for weight loss found that few studies (n = 52 [16.5%]) were classified as low risk and sufficient to support efficacy, and only 16 (31%) noted significant pre/post intergroup differences in weight 3.
- Resveratrol has been shown to exert beneficial effects in rodents fed a high-calorie diet, including reducing body weight and adiposity in obese animals, and has potential benefits in diabetes and diabetic complications 4.
Clinical Trials and Resveratrol
- Clinical trials of resveratrol have focused on cancer, neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and obesity, with resveratrol being well tolerated and beneficially influencing disease biomarkers in some cases 5.
- A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that resveratrol supplementation significantly influenced obesity measures, including body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference, but not fat mass 6.
Key Findings
- Resveratrol supplementation has been found to have beneficial effects on weight loss, particularly in trials using resveratrol at a dosage of <500 mg/d, those with long-term interventions (≥3 month), and performed on people with obesity 6.
- The evidence suggests that resveratrol may be a useful adjunct to traditional weight loss therapies, but more research is needed to fully understand its effects and optimal dosage 2, 6.