A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of resveratrol for Alzheimer disease

Turner RS, Thomas RG, Craft S, van Dyck CH, Mintzer J, Reynolds BA · Neurology

Resveratrol and its metabolites crossed into cerebrospinal fluid, confirming central exposure. CSF and plasma Abeta40 declined more on placebo than on resveratrol, giving a significant between-group difference at 52 weeks whose meaning is unclear. Brain volume loss was greater on resveratrol than placebo. The commonest adverse events were nausea, diarrhoea and weight loss.

Population

Adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease

Intervention

Resveratrol escalated from 500 mg once daily to 1,000 mg twice daily over 52 weeks

Comparator

Placebo

Limitations

Phase 2 with more than two primary outcomes, which the journal graded down to Class II evidence. The accelerated brain-volume loss was unexpected and unexplained, and no confirmatory trial has been run.