Scientists at Aarhus University Hospital in Aarhus, Denmark conducted a trial and found taking resveratrol supplements can help increase bone mineral density in obese men.

Low grade inflammation, a symptom of metabolic syndrome may harm bone health.  Resveratrol possesses an anti-inflammatory activity. The current study was intended to study the association between resveratrol supplementation of bone mineral density.

For the trial, 74 middle-aged obese men with metabolic syndrome were assigned to take resveratrol in a dose of 1000 mg or 150 mg per day or placebo for 16 weeks.

At the end of the supplementation, bone alkaline phosphatase was associated with the resveratrol dosage and high levels of bone alkaline phosphatase were found in those who took 1000 mg per day of resveratrol, compared with controls.

Additionally, lumbar spine trabecular volumetric bone mineral density also increased in those who took resveratrol in a dose-dependent manner.  The high dose was linked to amore significant increase in the bone mineral density.

Also, bone alkaline phosphatase was found associated with bone mineral density.   But there was no effect of resveratrol on bone density at the hip.

The trial concluded "high-dose RSV (resveratrol) supplementation positively affects bone, primarily by stimulating formation or mineralization."  The trial suggests that taking high doses of resveratrol supplements may help prevent osteoporosis.  (David Liu)

Ornstrup MJ, Harsløf T, Kjær TN, Langdahl BL, Pedersen SB.  Resveratrol Increases Bone Mineral Density and Bone Alkaline Phosphatase in Obese Men: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Oct 16