Resveratrol - Key to Anti-Aging & Longevity
How does Resveratrol improve immune function, extend lifespan and delay aging?
It is believed that resveratrol energizes a set of genes (the so-called longevity gene) that slow the aging process. Studies on animals have shown that resveratrol supplementation has the same beneficial effects on longevity as a restricted-calorie diet, adding up to a potential 40% increase in life span. Physicians from Harvard Medical School found that resveratrol allowed mice to eat a high fat diet yet live as long, and with as robust health, as those that did not.
Trans-Resveratrol, the active form of resveratrol polyphenols, activates the Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) gene resulting in increased cell longevity and enhanced cellular productivity. SIRT1 is an enzyme that plays a major role in cellular regulation and longevity. Researchers used a tryptophan residue to see if resveratrol would create more SIRT1 and found that it did. Over the last decade, many studies concluded that trans-resveratrol increased the lifespan of yeast, and many animals, through SIRT1 activation. It also increased the number of cellular mitochondria, thereby enhancing metabolism and increasing energy production. We now have abundant research showing the remarkable rejuvenating and anti-aging properties of Resveratrol.
"In the history of pharmaceuticals, there has never been a drug that binds to a protein to make it run faster in the way that resveratrol activates SIRT1," said David Sinclair, Harvard Medical School professor of genetics.
What about other resveratrol benefits?
While there is always need for ongoing work, the following possible benefits are all derived from clinical research.
Resveratrol’s anti-inflammatory properties may make it useful as a neuro-protective agent, able to assist the body in maintaining brain cell health. The antioxidant properties of resveratrol may also offer certain health benefits in the prevention of heart disease, and the reduction of lung tissue inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Resveratrol may help lower cholesterol, and is as much as 10 to 20 times more potent than vitamin E in protecting against LDL oxidation, a process that has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. As an antioxidant, its ability to promote nitric oxide production and to dilate blood vessels is well documented. It has also been shown to increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol which makes it highly beneficial as a cardio-support agen, protecting against plaque build up in the arteries, and making it more difficult for platelets to stick together and form the clots that can lead to a heart attack.
Resveratrol may have important anti-cancer benefits. Anderson Cancer Center reviewed dozens of studies on resveratrol and concluded that it exhibited anti-cancer properties against a wide range of tumor cells. The researchers concluded that "resveratrol appears to exhibit therapeutic effects against cancer." In laboratory studies, resveratrol has been found to inhibit the growth of numerous cancers in mice. Scientists have also noted that red wine drinkers suffer a decreased risk of colorectal cancer. It may also discourage tumor growth by blocking the action of Cox-2, an enzyme believed to contribute to the development of colon cancer. See references below.
University of Connectiut’s Cariovascular Research Center was recently cited in the Journal of Molecular Medicine on resveratrol. Resveratrol Supplementation Improved Healing of Infarcted Heart Tissue. One test group was given resveratrol supplements for two weeks. The researchers found that the presence of the antioxidant actually reduced stress on the wound site. Resveratrol appeared to provide favorable conditions for the wounds to heal, and when paired with stem cells, “cardiac function was significantly improved.” The stem cells survived alone on the wounds for seven days, whereas with the aid of resveratrol, they continued to thrive for 28 days. While more study is still needed, there is indication that heart-attack survivors could gain the benefits of resveratrol treatments.
In a study by Jill Crandall, an endocrinologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, intake of resveratrol supplements increases insulin sensitivity in human patients suffering from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) - also known as “pre-diabetes.” . Pre-diabetes patients taking resveratrol supplements showed lower post-meal glucose levels and improved insulin sensitivity – an encouraging outcome with potential implications for those with type 2 diabetes or at risk for the condition.
A related study by Meredith Hawkins, M.D., reported on the effect of resveratrol in overweight, middle-aged subjects who were insulin resistant. As people either age or gain weight, they don’t respond to insulin as well and as a result don’t utilize glucose efficiently, which can eventually result in diabetes. In her resveratrol study, Dr. Hawkins found a 40 percent increase in insulin sensitivity, as well as improvements in mitochondrial function, concluding that resveratrol supplementation may serve as a treatment for this condition.
The American Journal of Pathology reports that researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO have discovered benefits of resveratrol for preserving vision in blinding eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy as well as age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in Americans over 50.
According to a 2012 Canadian study, resveratrol supplementation could provide similar skeletal muscle benefits as endurance training, and the combination of endurance training with resveratrol supplementation resulted in a performance increase of 21%
Are there risks associated with using Resveratrol?
No toxic reactions have been associated with the consumption of resveratrol today, even in large doses. However, theoretically, since resveratrol increases blood flow and circulation throughout the body, it could increase the effects of prescription blood thinners. For this reason, individuals using such medications should consult a physician before supplementing with resveratrol. Resveratrol should not be taken by pregnant women or children, as its safety has not been established for these groups.
What should I look for in a Resveratrol Supplement?
There's no question resveratrol should be a part of our daily regimen, but most products on the market are not worth taking. Firstly, many companies use cis-resveratrol, a variant that does not have the same benefits as trans-resveratrol. Then there are dosing issues. In an independent review by ConsumerLab.com, the majority of resveratrol supplements were found to contain only 25 milligrams or less. To receive the benefits suggested in studies, you must take at least 100 milligrams of high-grade resveratrol, with the range being between 100-500mg daily.
Moreover, not all trans-resveratrol preparations are the same. There are different degrees of purity. Most common is 50% Trans-Resveratrol, which means if you see 200mg of 50% Trans-Resveratrol, the product has just 100mg of trans-resveratrol. Look for the highest purity, 99.7%. Some are coarse and not be absorbed properly, some use micronized resveratrol without standardized particle size measurements which can vary in efficacy from one batch to another.
It has also been shown that resveratrol works best when absorbed with other nutrients, which is why it is best to look for high-grade resveratrol that comes combined with other anti-oxidants, like the so-called 'super fruits,' all berries, grape skin extract, or other such bioflavonoid and quercetin-containing fruits. These ingredients help you absorb more resveratrol, so you get better results faster.
References:
Asgary S et al. Effects of flavonoids. Pharma Acta Helv 1999; 73:223-6.
Atkins, R. The Vita-Nutrient Solution. Simon and Schuster, 1999, pp. 310-311.
Da Luz PL et al. The effect of red wine: Exp Mol Pathol 1999; 65:150-59.
Delmas D et al. Effects of resveratrol on cell lines. Oncol Rep 2000; 7:847-52.
Demrow HS et al. Administration of wine and grape juice. Circulation 1995; 91:1182-88.
Hung LM et al. Effect of resveratrol, naturally derived from grapes. Cardiovasc Res 2000; 47:549-55.
Iijima K et al. Red wine polyphenols expression of cyclin A gene. Circulation 2000; 101:805-11.
Koga T et al. Increase by oral administration of proanthocyanidin-rich extract from grape seeds. J Agric Food Chem 1999;47: 1892-97.
Lin JK, Tsai SH. Resveratrol. Proc Natural Sci Counc Repub China B 1999; 23:99-106.
Manna SK et al. Resveratrol: potential role of oxygen intermediates and lipid peroxidation. J Immunol 2000;164:6509-19.
Sato M et al. Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins. J Mol Cell Cardiol 1999; 31:1289-97.
Szende B. Effect of resveratrol on cell cultures. Exp Mol Med 2000; 32:88-92.
Thompson, LU et al. Relationship between polyphenol intake and response in individuals. Am J Nutr 1984;39:745-51.
Yamakoshi J et al. Proanthocyanidin-rich extract from grape seeds. Atherosclerosis 1999; 142:139-49.
Content and other information presented on the site is not meant to constitute medical advice or be any substitute for professional advice, counseling, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay or disregard professional medical or mental health advice from your physician or other qualified health provider. If you are making changes to your regimen, always consult your doctor first.
