USE OF RESVERATROL IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES PREVENTION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in blackberry and red wine, has properties that prevent the development of atherosclerosis, and therefore, cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was, through a systematic review, to assess whether resveratrol reduces the incidence of cardiovascular events and improves inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in individuals at risk. Searches were conducted in databases such as LILACS, PubMed,SCIELO and selected randomized controlled trials in humans, including the use of resveratrol in the prevention of cardiovascular events or in the improvement of inflammation and endothelial function. The final sample consisted of 10 items. Of the four studies that analyzed the flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, all showed significant improvement in endothelial function after the use of resveratrol, compared with placebo.In the 7 studies that evaluated subclinical inflammation, there were differences, 3 studies showed significant decreases in the values of TNF-α, 2 showed significant changes in plasma levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 (IL-6), while 1 didn't showed changes in TNF-α and IL-6. In conclusion, resveratrol is capable of improving endothelial function when compared with placebo. However, it was not possible to infer an improvement or not in the parameters concerning endothelial inflammation, since the data extracted from the studies were insufficient. Moreover, it was not possible to evaluate the use of resveratrol in the improvement of survival, infarction or reduction in mortality, since there were no records in the literature of randomized controlled trials that analyzed the effect of resveratrol use on clinical outcomes in humans.