Resveratrol in red wine could help to treat endometriosis

Researches at the Iran University of Medical Sciences have found that the anti-inflammatory properties of resveratrol in red wine could help to treat endometriosis.

As reported by Wine Spectator, the study was published in the online journal Nature.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It can affect women of any age and can cause chronic pain, irregular bleeding and infertility.

There is no cure for endometriosis, which is treated with anti-inflammatory medication.

The Iran study aimed to find out how effective resveratrol – an antioxidant-rich compound found in red wine – was in treating the symptoms of endometriosis.

The researches tested the antioxidant in the lab on endometrial cells, collecting endometrial cells from 40 patients suffering from stage 3 or 4 endometriosis, along with 15 patients without the condition.

After isolating the cells, the scientists treated them with varying amounts of resveratrol.

As reported by Wine Spectator, three genes and the proteins they produce cause endometrial cells growing outside the uterus.

The researchers found that resveratrol suppressed all three of the offending genes, controlling inflammation and keeping the condition under control.

“According to the findings, resveratrol may ameliorate endometriosis progression through reducing the expression of these genes in endometrial cells,” the researchers reported, adding that further research was needed.

The findings give hope to women suffering from the condition, who may benefit from the anti-inflammatory effects of a daily glass of red wine.