Resveratrol and Bone Health in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia

• Alexa Harrison, Nutritional Science, University of Delaware

• Sheau Ching Chai, Health Behavior and Nutrition Science, University of Delaware

Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which bone structure changes and strength decreases, increasing the risk of fractures. Menopause increases the risk of osteoporosis. On average, women lose up to 10% of their bone mass in the first five years after menopause. Current treatment and medication options for osteoporosis may be expensive or difficult to acquire. Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant present in the human diet in foods such as red grapes, blueberries, and peanuts. Potential health benefits of resveratrol include protection against oxidative stress and cancer, reduced inflammation, and improved cardiovascular health. The purpose of this study is to examine whether daily supplementation of resveratrol can benefit bone metabolism in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. The study is a 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial in which postmenopausal women with osteopenia are randomly assigned to two groups: 1) the placebo group and 2) the resveratrol group. The resveratrol group receives 500 mg of resveratrol daily for six months, and the placebo group receives placebo capsules. Both groups receive 500 mg calcium plus 400 IU vitamin D daily. Blood and urinary biomarkers of bone metabolism are assessed at baseline, 3-, and 6-months. As an exploratory analysis, bone density of lumbar spine (L1-L4), hip, forearm, and the whole body are assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and 6-months. This is an ongoing study, therefore, results are not available yet. If resveratrol supplementation is found to protect or improve bone health in postmenopausal women, it could serve as a cheaper, easier alternative to common medical treatments for osteoporosis.