My Resveratrol Experience - Side Effects, Benefits, Dosage, and Research Information

Resveratrol Absorption via Buccal Mucosa Delivery

Increasing the bioavailability of resveratrol by way of oral consumption in liquid form.

The absorption capabilities of standard form powdered resveratrol has been a target of many discussions among those researching resveratrol both clinically and personally. Like many supplements and pharmaceuticals, it is one thing to consume it, but is another for you to actually absorb and not disregard it as waste. This "problem" has caused many to try and find better ways to increase the bioavailability of resveratrol.

Resveratrol is rapidly metabolized by humans which makes for little absorption into our blood stream in it's basic trans form. In hopes to determine a better way to maximize bioavailability many have tried the following methods:

Transdermal Delivery: this method works by applying resveratrol directly to the skin via a lotion (cream) or by using a transdermal patch. The patch is becoming a very popular way to deliver medications. Most commonly used for the Nicotine Patch, it is also used for many other drugs.

Micronizing Resveratrol Particle Size: this is the act of refining the standard particle size of resveratrol to a much smaller size of under 10 microns (10um). In previous studies micronization of drugs improved both bioavailability and clinical efficacy.

Micronized Resveratrol: Is it better?

In earlier posts I spoke about the importance of bioavailability and resveratrol.  We know that when a drug or supplement is taken orally it must pass through our digestive system and is metabolized.  Many substances that are not very water soluble have a hard time making it through this process without first being eliminated or structurally broken down.  This means it never makes it to it's desired destination in our bodies.  To make these types of substances more bioavailable, a method called "micronization" is implemented.

"Micronization is the process of reducing the average diameter of a solid material's particles. Usually, the term micronization is used when the particles that are produced are only a few micrometres in diameter. However, modern applications (usually in the pharmaceutical's industry) require average particle diameters of the nanometer scale." from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronization

trans-Resveratrol and Bioavailability, the connection.

Why is bioavailability so important when it comes to trans-resveratrol? For starters if the "good parts" of a drug or supplement don't make it to the intended destination then there is no chance it is going to work.  We as humans metabolize ingested supplements at different rates.  It is necessary to make sure you are taking the proper dose and this can be different based on your own metabolism.  The faster your body metabolizes a supplement the less likely it is for the effective amount of that supplement to reach its intended destination at lower doses compared to a human with a lower metabolism.

Keep in mind that many non-human studies, especially those done with rats, are given at much higher doses of resv at approximately 50mg/KG of body weight.  Since rats have higher metabolisms then humans it is important we take a lower dose to get a similar effect.  This is described in more detail below...

Bioavailability, what does it have to do with Resveratrol?

I've always been known as someone who jumps into a project and digs deep.  I had no clue what I was getting into when I happened across resveratrol.  My research constantly creates more questions and more learning but you have to start some where.  A topic I found comes up often with those studying the effectiveness of resveratrol is "bioavailability."  Prior to getting into how bioavailability effects resveratrol users let's first start out by learning what it is.  Bioavailability is a part of the science of Pharmacokinetics.  Ok, so what is pharma-co-ka whatics now?