Context: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with low-grade inflammation, which may harmfully affect bone. Resveratrol (RSV) possesses anti-inflammatory properties, and rodent studies suggest bone protective effects.
Objective: This study sought to evaluate effects of RSV treatment on bone in men with MetS.
Setting and design: The study was conducted at Aarhus University Hospital as a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial assessing changes in bone turnover markers, bone mineral density (BMD), and geometry.
Participants: The study population comprised 74 middle-aged obese men with MetS recruited from the general community, of which 66 completed all visits. Mean age of participants was 49.3 ± 6.3 years and mean body mass index was 33.7 ± 3.6 kg/m(2).
Intervention: Oral treatment with 1.000 mg RSV (RSV(high)), 150 mg RSV (RSV(low)), or placebo daily for 16 weeks.
Main outcome measure: Prespecified primary endpoint was change in bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP).
Results: BAP increased dose dependently with RSV (R = 0.471, P < .001), resulting in a significantly greater increase in BAP in the RSV(high) group compared with placebo at all time-points (week 4, 16.4 ± 4.2%, P < .001; week 8, 16.5 ± 4.1%, P < .001; week 16, 15.2 ± 3.7%, P < .001). Lumbar spine trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (LS vBMD(trab)) also increased dose dependently with RSV (R = 0.268, P = .036), with a significant increase of 2.6 ± 1.3% in the RSV(high) group compared with placebo (P = .043). In addition, changes in BAP and LS vBMD(trab) were positively correlated (R = 0.281, P = .027). No consistent changes were detected in bone density at the hip.
Conclusions: Our data suggest that high-dose RSV supplementation positively affects bone, primarily by stimulating formation or mineralization. Future studies of longer duration comprising populations at risk of osteoporosis are needed to confirm these results.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01412645.