Hardly a month goes by without a news story appearing touting the benefits of drinking a few glasses of red wine each week. But which nutrient provides the basis for these stories, and can it be found in vitamin supplements?

The compound is called resveratrol, and it can indeed be taken via herbal supplements or multivitamins. Its most recent appearance in the national news was by way of a study published in the FASEB Journal, which suggested that resveratrol may preserve breast health.

Researchers at Italy’s University of Calabria announced that the antioxidants found in red wine appear to slow the production of estrogen within certain breast cells, which they concluded may prevent the rapid growth of such tissues.

However, simply drinking more red wine may not be a healthy choice, since increased alcohol consumption is associated with plenty of illnesses and chronic conditions. Instead, women who want to derive all the value of a glass of Merlot without consuming alcohol may consider trying dietary supplements or daily multivitamins.

Likewise, eating purple- or red-skinned fruits can increase one’s intake of resveratrol, as well as of many other important vitamins and minerals.