Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a polyphenol: a plant compound that grapes, berries and some roots make to defend themselves. In supplements it comes from two main sources, the skins of red grapes and the root of Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum). Knotweed extract is standardised to a high percentage of trans-resveratrol, which is why most capsules use it. Grape and red wine extracts contain far less per gram, so you usually meet them inside broader antioxidants formulas rather than as a stand-alone dose.

Trans-resveratrol is the number worth checking

Resveratrol exists in two shapes, cis and trans. Trans-resveratrol is the more stable one and the form used in most research, so that is what belongs on the label. Labels are easy to misread. "500 mg knotweed extract, 98% trans-resveratrol" gives you roughly 490 mg of resveratrol. "500 mg extract, 50% resveratrol" gives you half that. Where a brand states the standardised amount per serving, we show it, so you can compare two bottles in seconds instead of guessing from the front of the pack.

Absorption decides more than the dose on the pack

Resveratrol dissolves in fat, and your gut and liver break most of it down within hours. That makes the practical details matter more here than with many other supplements. Take it with a meal that contains some fat. Liposomal products wrap the compound in a tiny fat layer so more of it survives the digestive tract. Blends with piperine (black pepper extract) or with other polyphenols such as quercetin capsules aim at the same problem from another angle. Higher blood levels are not proof of a bigger result, but weak absorption is a real limitation and worth designing around.

What we say and what we leave out

European food law has approved no health claim for resveratrol, so we do not promise heart, brain or lifespan effects. People buy it as part of healthy ageing routines, and it is not a supplement you feel working. One rule is useful to know: synthetic trans-resveratrol is authorised as a novel food with a limit of 150 mg per day in food supplements, while plant extracts are often dosed higher. Resveratrol is not intended for pregnancy or breastfeeding.

How we choose resveratrol at BONO

We judge three things: the form, the dose and the combination. We stock standardised trans-resveratrol, because a stated percentage can be verified, and we pass on products that print only "resveratrol complex" with no figure behind it. We keep liposomal and piperine-supported options for people who care about absorption, plus plain single-ingredient capsules for those who build their own routine. We buy directly from the brands, our compliance team checks every product before it goes live, and independent labs spot-check batches. See how we select brands and products.

This collection fits you if:

• you want a clearly stated trans-resveratrol dose rather than a vague blend;
• you already take polyphenols and want to add one with a long research history;
• you prefer a liquid or liposomal option because capsules do not suit you.

If you are new to it, start with one product and one dose, take it daily with food, and give it a few weeks before you judge anything.