Resveratrol Supplementation and its Potential Benefits in Obesity-related Non-communicable Diseases

Background/Aim: Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in grapes, berries, and peanuts, has been linked to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasoprotective effects. Yet, evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remains inconsistent, and the quality, dosage, and cost of commercial resveratrol products vary considerably, raising uncertainty about their true efficacy. A comprehensive synthesis of its effects on obesity-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is therefore warranted. Given that obesity is a key driver of metabolic dysregulation underlying diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease, clarifying resveratrol’s potential in overweight and obese populations is of particular importance. Materials and Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for RCTs published up to July 2025 that evaluated resveratrol supplementation in adults with obesity-related metabolic disorders or associated risk factors. Study selection and data extraction followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Pooled estimates were calculated using random-effects models, and heterogeneity was assessed with the I² statistic. Results: Forty RCTs involving 2551 participants were included. Resveratrol significantly reduced the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). No consistent changes were observed for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), fat mass, hip circumference (BC), waist circumference (WC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), or liver fat. To our knowledge, this meta-analysis includes the largest number of RCTs to date and the most comprehensive coverage of obesity-related metabolic and inflammatory endpoints. Effect sizes varied by intervention dose and duration. Conclusion: Resveratrol supplementation shows modest benefits on selected metabolic and inflammatory parameters but does not exert broad effects across all obesity-related NCD risk factors. Its potential role may be most relevant in populations with metabolic disturbances. Large-scale, long-term RCTs are warranted to clarify optimal dosing strategies and establish its utility in the prevention and management of obesity-related non-communicable diseases.