Resveratrol is a natural substance found in grapes, peanuts, blueberries and other foods that’s known for its heart-protective nature. Researchers believe it may also help promote eye health, including prevention of glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, but not much is known about its presence in the eyes. Scientists from Tongji Medical College, in China, set out to measure the concentration of trans-resveratrol in the eyes after oral supplementation.

Three daily doses of Longevinex, an oral trans-resveratrol-based capsule supplement, was administered to 35 adults prior to eye surgery on one of their eyes, and tissue samples of the conjunctiva, aqueous humor and vitreous humor were taken. Researchers measured the tissues for resveratrol concentration to determine how much of the supplement penetrated the eyes. Resveratrol metabolites were detected in the conjunctiva of 25 of the eyes, indicating that the beneficial substance does pass through the brain.

This article appears in the October 2017 issue of Natural Awakenings.