Credit: The Journal of Physiology (2025). DOI: 10.1113/JP287056

Coventry University researchers have discovered that resveratrol, a natural antioxidant, may help combat muscle weakness caused by a high-fat diet.

Resveratrol is found in foods like red grapes and peanuts and is already known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, but findings by the university's Research Center for Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Sciences (PASES) offer the first clear evidence of its potential to preserve muscle strength and performance, even when under metabolic stress from a high-fat diet.

Using advanced techniques developed at PASES, researchers examined the effects of resveratrol on mice fed a high-fat diet over 12 weeks, with some of the mice receiving resveratrol as a daily supplement. The research is published in The Journal of Physiology.

Mice that received the supplement showed significantly greater muscle power than those without, despite being on the same diet. In some cases, their muscle function resembled that of animals fed a standard, healthier diet, suggesting resveratrol may offer a protective effect from high-fat diets.

Resveratrol had the strongest effect on muscles used for quick, powerful movements, which are the most affected by high-fat diets. The potential for applying this discovery to human trials offers new opportunities to tackle the obesity pandemic which is now affecting approximately 1 billion people. Maintaining muscle health offers life-changing benefits to society, including disease prevention, quality of life and increased mobility.

Coventry University's project lead, Associate Professor Jason Tallis from PASES, said, "This is the first time we've seen such direct results that resveratrol can protect muscle performance under the stress of a high-fat diet.

"We will now be able to use the findings to investigate safe and effective treatment and preventative strategies."

Professor Deborah Lycett, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), said, "This work is a great example of novel experimental science happening at Coventry University. Such discoveries open the way for investigating new treatments and approaches to tackle challenges like obesity."

More information: Sharn P. Shelley et al, Adverse effects of high‐fat diet consumption on contractile mechanics of isolated mouse skeletal muscle are reduced when supplemented with resveratrol, The Journal of Physiology (2025). DOI: 10.1113/JP287056  Journal information: Journal of Physiology