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Popular Supplement May Cause Uncomfortable Side Effects

Q. My wife and I have tried resveratrol several times and had to stop because it triggered itchy bug bite-like feelings.

I’m 100 percent sure it’s the resveratrol. I recently tried taking half a capsule of the resveratrol and the itchy bumps are back. So I think I’m done with resveratrol.

A. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound found in the skin of red grapes and red peanuts. It is promoted as an antioxidant that can help protect the heart and brain from the effects of aging.

Other readers have also reported an itchy rash that resembles bug bites as a reaction to resveratrol. New research has cast doubt on the benefits of resveratrol as an anti-aging agent (JAMA Internal Medicine, online, May 12, 2014). There is certainly no good reason to take a supplement that causes an unpleasant reaction such as the skin rash you have experienced.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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