Resveratrol is a component in red wine many people have linked to health benefits, but a new study suggests the chemical could hinder the effects of exercise. Heart disease and high blood pressure are each said, by proponents, to be controlled by Resveratrol (RSV).

Grape skins naturally produce RSV, and the fruit is often considered to be part of a Mediterranean diet that many people believe could lead to a longer, healthier life. The natural phenol is produced by these plants, as well as peanuts and blueberries, when they are under attack from animals, bacteria or fungi. A study from 2012 showed RSV improved skeletal muscle strength and heart function in mice taking part in a regular workouts. Resveratrol is now sold in commercial products, some of which claim to mimic the effect of exercise.

"The easiest way to experience the benefits of physical activity is to be physically active. The efficacy of RSV at improving metabolic and cardiovascular functions is not as profound as once thought," Brendon Gurd from Queen's University in Canada, said.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) was undertaken by 16 subjects who, previous to the study, were exercising three hours a week or less. Some participants were provided with RSV, while a placebo was administered to others. The subjects were examined after four weeks of HIIT, showing RSV may actually hinder the effects of exercise. Those who consumed the grape skin showed no average improvement in their health from the exercise program, but benefits were seen in those who did not ingest RSV.

"The data set we recorded during this study clearly demonstrates that RSV supplementation doesn't augment training, but may impair the effect it has on the body," Gurd stated in a press release.

This new study calls into question claims resveratrol can augment the effects of exercise, and provides evidence consumption of RSV may hinder health benefits from HIIT. Each of the subjects in the study were men, so the investigation did not look at how the chemical affects women. Further research, studying the effects of the chemical on larger groups of people over longer periods of time will be needed to confirm or refute the recent findings.

Practicing HIIT consists of performing short bursts of intense exercise, followed by short recovery periods. Proponents claim the technique burns body fat more quickly than steady exercise.

A recent study suggested consumption of RSV by pregnant women could damage the pancreas of fetuses.

Investigation of the role of resveratrol in the human response to exercise was profiled in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.