Are you referring to the absorption of metabolites, and do these metabolites have some of the same effects? I'm just trying to understand the bioavailability of resveratrol, because I was unaware of newer information on it's bioavailability. I was still under the impression that it doesn't absorb well. It looks like consistent use also helps with effectiveness, by sensitizing tissue to it or something like that. I'm going to check out the full text of this later.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011 Jan;1215:9-15. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05842.x.
Bioavailability of resveratrol.
Walle T.
Source
Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, 29425, USA.
Abstract
This paper reviews our current understanding of the absorption, bioavailability, and metabolism of resveratrol, with an emphasis on humans. The oral absorption of resveratrol in humans is about 75% and is thought to occur mainly by transepithelial diffusion. Extensive metabolism in the intestine and liver results in an oral bioavailability considerably less than 1%. Dose escalation and repeated dose administration of resveratrol does not appear to alter this significantly. Metabolic studies, both in plasma and in urine, have revealed major metabolites to be glucuronides and sulfates of resveratrol. However, reduced dihydroresveratrol conjugates, in addition to highly polar unknown products, may account for as much as 50% of an oral resveratrol dose. Although major sites of metabolism include the intestine and liver (as expected), colonic bacterial metabolism may be more important than previously thought. Deconjugation enzymes such as β-glucuronidase and sulfatase, as well as specific tissue accumulation of resveratrol, may enhance resveratrol efficacy at target sites. Resveratrol analogs, such as methylated derivatives with improved bioavailability, may be important in future research.
© 2011 New York Academy of Sciences.
PMID: 21261636 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]