There has been much interest in resveratrol since it’s appearance on 60 Minutes, with talk of its many potential benefits.

But what is the research that’s going on with resveratrol?

What are the scientific studies looking at, when it comes to this ‘red wine supplement’?

Well, let’s have a look:Dr David Sinclair - Harvard Medical School

The first study to be aware of is the famous one by Dr David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School, where the benefits of resveratrol on mice were studied.

In 2006, his publication of his findings got media attention the world over.

His study showed that:

“After six months, resveratrol essentially prevented most of the negative effects of the high calorie diet in mice,” said Rafael de Cabo, Ph.D., the study’s other co-senior investigator ~1

In mice who had the resveratol, there were benefits seen that reflected a protection against the negative effects of a high calorie diet and obesity.

These benefits including decreased blood sugar levels, improved insulin sensitivity, improved health of heart and liver tissues, better physical performance and improved longevity.

This has led Sinclair to pursue further studies on resveratrol on diabetes and its ability to improve insulin sensitivity, and control blood glucose levels.

And in terms of better performance in the mice with resveratrol:

“The mice on resveratrol have not been just living longer,” says Sinclair. “They are also living more active, better lives. Their motor skills actually show improvement as they grow older.”

This study caused many sections of the media and the health profession to pay attention to the potential benefits of resveratrol and red wine, and the variety of benefits seen in this study triggered a lot of research into resveratrol.

Want resveratrol as a free trial?

Then get your trial offer here:

Get Your Resveratrol Free Trial Here

In Vitro And In Vivo Studies: Anti Cancer Effects

There has been a number of in vitro and in vivo studies on the effect of resveratrol on cancer cells. The anti tumor effect may be on various steps of the cancer process, not just one. The latest findings indicate that resveratrol may have anti cancer and anti tumor effects in these cell studies, in a variety of types of tumors.

“The anticancer property of resveratrol has been supported by its ability to inhibit proliferation of a wide variety of human tumor cells in vitro.” ~2

“In vivo, resveratrol blocks the multistep process of carcinogenesis at various stages: it blocks carcinogen activation by inhibiting aryl hydrocarbon-induced CYP1A1 expression and activity, and suppresses tumor initiation, promotion and progression.

Besides chemopreventive effects, resveratrol appears to exhibit therapeutic effects against cancer. Limited data in humans have revealed that resveratrol is pharmacologically quite safe. Currently, structural analogues of resveratrol with improved bioavailability are being pursued as potential therapeutic agents for cancer.” ~3

Of course, human studies are required before conclusions can be made on the effectiveness of resveratrol in humans, but these in vitro and in vivo studies are prompting more studies to be done.

Cardioprotection

A recent research article looked at the role of resveratrol in cardioprotection or protection of the hearth in health and disease, such as the protection against reperfusion injury, which is the injury that occurs to the heart muscle after a heart attack when blood flow returns to the muscle.

The role of resveratrol in reducing cholesterol and blood sugar levels were also reviewed:

“We have recently reported the angiogenic, antihypercholesterolemic, and antidiabetic effects of resveratrol and the mechanisms involved in reduced ventricular remodeling and increased cardiac functions. We have also shown different strategic target molecules involved in resveratrol-mediated cardioprotection.”

And this study “discusses the potential effect of resveratrol and the mechanisms involved in resveratrol-mediated cardioprotection during myocardial infarction, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes rendering its beneficial effects during health and disease.” ~4

We’ll put up more highlights of research and resveratrol studies as they become published.

Resveratrol And Diabetes

A recent very promising study looked at the effect of resveratrol on type 2 diabetes.

This study was headed by David Sinclair and represented the first human trial of a drug which mimics the effect of resveratrol.

A thrid of patients were given a 2.5g dose of the drug, another third given a 5g dose and a third taking a placebo.

And the study results?

It found that:

“Both doses were found to be safe and well tolerated and levels of the drug remained consistent in the blood over the 28-day period, the company said. But the drug also improved glucose tolerance in an oral test and showed a trend toward lowering glucose levels in the blood.” ~5

This is very promising as it shows good tolerance to the drug at high doses as well as effectiveness in improving glucose tolerance in diabetes.

References:

1

Small Molecule Increases Lifespan and “Healthspan” of Obese Mice: web.med.harvard.edu/sites/RELEASES/html/11_1Sinclair.html

2

Cancer Prevention and Treatment with Resveratrol: From Rodent Studies to Clinical Trials. Cancer Prev Res (Phila Pa). 2009 Apr 28. Bishayee A.

3

Role of resveratrol in prevention and therapy of cancer: preclinical and clinical studies. Anticancer Res. 2004 Sep-Oct;24(5A):2783-840. Aggarwal BB et al.

4

Resveratrol: a promising agent in promoting cardioprotection against coronary heart disease. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009 Apr;87(4):275-86. Penumathsa SV, Maulik N.

5

/www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0743693420080108

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,