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Stay healthy with Resveratrol.
Life Extension:
Perhaps the most exciting research being
conducted on resveratrol is occurring within
the realm of life extension.
Researchers have determined that resveratrol
has the ability to extend the lives of
yeast, worms, fruit flies, a certain species
of fish, and obese mice up to 70%, 29%, 24%,
50%, and 31% respectively (depending on the
amount of resveratrol given). Whether these
results will transfer to humans is not
known.
So how does resveratrol extend life in
certain organisms?
The exact answer is not known but a widely
asserted theory is that Resveratrol
activates an enzyme that is present in the
bodies of many living organism called
sirtuin 2 (or SIR2). SIR2 is believed to
extend cell life by 'coercing' cells to
repair themselves (i.e. repair their DNA
while increasing the production of
protective antioxidants) as opposed to
dying. In essence, it is believed
resveratrol extends the lives of individual
cells and the lives of the 'host' organisms
are extended as a result.
Interestingly, SIR2 is also activated by the
practice of Caloric Restriction (reducing
the calories in a 'normal' diet by around
40% while still consuming the necessary
vitamins and minerals a body need; that is,
replacing high calorie foods with low
calorie nutrient rich foods). Science has
proven that calorie restriction increases
the lives of organisms such as mice while
significant health benefits have been
observed in monkeys and humans - studies are
underway to determine if calorie restriction
extends the lives of monkeys and humans -
many in the scientific community are
optimistic that it does.
Many scientists (and those in the venture
capital community) are extremely optimistic
about the future of resveratrol for disease
prevention, disease treatment, and life
extension; researchers from institutions
such as Harvard and the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) are currently
developing pharmaceuticals based on the
chemical structure and properties of
resveratrol. It is believed that these drugs
are 5 or more years away from commercial and
regulatory feasibility.
Increased Endurance:
Does consuming resveratrol increase
endurance?
According to a study conducted by the
Institute of Genetics and Molecular and
Cellular Biology, mice given oral doses of
resveratrol were able to run 100% farther
than mice not given the resveratrol. The
resveratrol dosed mice also displayed a
reduced heart rate and energy charged
muscles - physical characteristics
associated with highly trained athletes.
According to the study's lead scientist,
Johan Auwerx, "Resveratrol makes you look
like a trained athlete without the
training".
Will these results translate in to humans?
According to Mr. Auwerx, the same reaction
will likely occur in humans based on his
analysis of the gene that is influenced by
resveratrol in a group of Finnish subjects.
What could be causing the increased
endurance?
According to Mr. Auwerx, resveratrol alters
muscle fibers to make them more like muscle
fibers of a trained athlete.
Another exciting result from the study!
Resveratrol significantly increased the
number of mitochondria in the muscles cells
of the mice (mitochondria are responsible
for generating cells' energy). The increased
mitochondria allowed the mice to burn more
calories and thus avoid weight gain. The
mice also did not experience decreased
sensitivity to insulin (a symptom of being
overweight and a cause of diabetes).
Weight Loss:
In November of 2007 a study was published in
the journal Cell in which it was revealed
that resveratrol administered orally to mice
significantly increased the number of
mitochondria in the mice's cells
(Mitochondria are the organelles within the
body’s cells that generate energy).
Not only did this increase in mitochondria
double the mice's endurance, but it also
increased the mice's metabolism; In essence,
with increased mitochondria levels, the mice
were able to burn more calories, and thus
avoid weight gain.
A lead researcher of the study, Johan Auwerx,
said a study of men and women from Finland
revealed that resveratrol will likely
produce similar results in humans.
Diabetes Control:
Perhaps the most imminent breakthrough for
resveratrol will be for the treatment of
type 2 diabetes.
In January of 2008 Sirtris Pharmaceuticals
announced that its version of Resveratrol
"significantly" lowered glucose (in an oral
glucose tolerance test) in HUMANS with Type
2 diabetes. Doses of 2.5 or 5 grams were
administered orally once a day for 28 days.
The patients experienced "no serious adverse
events and no dose related adverse events" -
in other words, Resveratrol was well
tolerated by the patients.
This study is significant because it shows
that Resveratrol might well be used to treat
type 2 diabetes in the near future and that
it seems to be well tolerated by patients at
large doses (2.5 to 5 grams per day).
Smaller doses might have the same beneficial
effects as indicated by an October study
where the equivalent of 15 mg. of
Resveratrol effectively increased insulin
sensitivity in diabetic mice.......
In July 2007, Sirtris Pharmaceuticals
announced that its version of resveratrol
reduced glucose and improved insulin
sensitivity in multiple pre-clinical models
of Type 2 Diabetes.
The results of this Sirtris study were no
surprise however. In November 2007, a study
was released in the publication Cell that
indicated that resveratrol administered
orally to mice protected them from gaining
weight and developing diabetes. A lead
researcher of the study, Johan Auwerx, said
a study of men and women from Finland
revealed that resveratrol will likely
produce similar results in humans.
It is possible that resveratrol fights
diabetes in two ways; by reducing glucose
and improving insulin sensitivity and by
increasing animals' metabolisms (thereby
decreasing weight gain - a main contributor
of type 2 diabetes). See 'Weight Loss' page.
Sirtis is currently performing a Phase 1b
resveratrol study in human patients with
Type 2 Diabetes. The results of this study
will be released in the second half of 2007.
Heart Health:
Several studies indicate that consuming
resveratrol may help protect the human
heart. There are several reasons why this
may be true.
Anti-Inflammatory:
Inflammation is the natural process by which
the body responds to injury (such injury may
be caused or exacerbated by bacterial
infections or a viruses). Numerous studies
suggest that inflammation is a contributing
factor in fatty deposits building up in the
lining of arteries (also known as
atherosclerosis). These fatty deposits can
clog arteries and cause heart attacks or
stokes.
Resveratrol has been found to inhibit the
activity of several inflammatory enzymes (in
vitro) in several laboratory studies.
Blood Platelet Aggregation:
Blood platelets are irregularly shaped cell
fragments that help to form blood clots;
blood clots can partially or fully block
coronary or cerebral arteries causing heart
attacks or strokes.
Several studies indicate that resveratrol
inhibits blood platelets from aggregating
(in vitro).
Lowering Cholesterol:
Many researchers believe that resveratrol is
at least partially responsible for the
cholesterol lowering effects (both total
cholesterol and LDL cholesterol) of red
wine. Resveratrol is believed to block
cholesterol oxidation through its
antioxidant properties.
Treatment After Heart Attack
5 to 10% of heart attack victims suffer a
condition called atrial fibrillation (where
the top chambers of the heart flutter) after
a heart attack; this condition can produce
blood clots that can result in a stroke. In
a recent study, resveratrol was given to
selected rodents before a heart attack was
induced while other rodents received
nothing. The mortality rate of rodents who
received the resveratrol was just 10% and
fibrillation lasted an average of 112
seconds compared to a 50% mortality rate and
fibrillation lasting an average of 164
seconds for rodents who received no
resveratrol.
Cancer Prevention:
Resveratrol has been proven to fight cancer
in vitro at all three stages; (1)
initiation, (2) promotion, (&) progression.
Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that
can help prevent cell damage caused by free
radicals. Damaged cells are more likely to
become cancerous than healthy cells.
Resveratrol has been proven to induce cancer
cells to die in a preferable (i.e. normal)
manner (like healthy cells die in their
natural life cycle). Whereas radiation and
chemotherapy cause cancer cells to break
open and release their contents into the
body, creating inflammation in neighboring
cells, resveratrol induces white blood cells
to consume the cellular debris of the cancer
cell after its death (this process is called
apoptosis).
Skin Cancer - Several studies have shown
that Resveratrol applied to the skin of
hairless mice before exposure to solar (UVB)
radiation helped to prevent skin tumors.
Interestingly, Resveratrol applied to the
skin of hairless mice after exposure to
solar (UVB) radiation produced the same
results. Might resveratrol one day be used
to prevent/treat skin cancer?
Alzheimers Prevention:
Recent studies suggest that resveratrol
might help prevent or ameliorate alzheimers
disease.
One of the characteristics of alzheimers
disease is the deposition of plaques in the
brain. These plaques are caused by amyloid-beta
peptides. Recent scientific studies suggest
that adding resveratrol to the cells that
create amyloid-beta peptides (and as a
result the destructive plaques) result in
significantly lower levels of the amyloid-beta
peptides in these cells.
If taken orally, could resveratrol
effectively treat the brain? Science has not
conclusively answered this question.
However, one recent study concluded that
resveratrol has the ability to pass through
the blood-brain barrier (blood vessel walls
that prevent many toxins and other compounds
-potentially good and bad - from entering
the brain). In essence, resveratrol has the
ability to reach, and perhaps, treat the
brain.
Additionally, studies have indicated that
people who drink red wine are less likely to
be affected by alzheimers.
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