A compound found in red wine – resveratrol – did not reduce knee pain in people with knee osteoarthritis says a new trial published in PLoS Med. The evidence  calls into question previous suggestions that red wine has anti-inflammatory properties.

Resveratrol is a polyphenol found in berries, peanuts and skins of red grapes. Polyphenols are known for their antioxidant properties and potential health benefits, which include lowering inflammation and protecting against oxidative stress.

New research

A total of 142 people with arthritis (age average 61 years old) were split into groups. Half were given supplements of resveratrol for six months and the others had a placebo.

Knee pain scores, assessed at the start of the study and throughout, revealed that the supplement did not have a positive effect. The team highlights that “we observed that compared with placebo, oral resveratrol did not reduce knee pain in people with painful knee osteoarthritis.”

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