Redwine And Antioxidant Resveratrol Supplements

We often see studies on nutrients that catch the attention of the media and public. Recently, this happened big time with a phytonutrient called resveratrol which is a natural substance primarily found in the skins of grapes and in red wine.

An article was published in the November 2006 edition of the prestigious science journal Nature. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the National Institute of Aging reported on a study performed in mice given resveratrol.

The researchers fed one group of mice a diet containing 60% of calories from fat. Shortly after, the mice began to develop signs of aging with impending diabetes and grossly enlarged livers. These mice started dying much sooner than animals fed a standard diet.

Another group of mice were then fed the identical diet, but also given an extremely large daily oral dose of resveratrol. Although they gained weight like the first group, those given resveratrol did not develop elevations in blood sugar or alterations in insulin secretion in the bloodstream, nor did they show any enlargement of the liver. Additionally, and more importantly, the resveratrol group had a significant extension of lifespan.

Aside from these benefits, it appeared that the resveratrol-treated mice had improvement in the physical quality of their lives. Researchers gauged how well the mice could walk on a rotating rod. Those treated with resveratrol did substantially better than those that didn't receive resveratrol. It should be noted that the mice were given an extraordinary amount of resveratrol at 24 mg per kg (2.2 lbs) of body weight. It was estimated that in order to consume this amount of resveratrol, one would have to drink hundreds of glasses of red wine a day.

Some researchers have suggested caution pending further study of human metabolism. However, lead researcher of the study, Dr. David Sinclair, is not waiting. He's reportedly been taking resveratrol at a dose of 5 mg per kg in supplemental form. Additionally, it's been said that not only is he taking it, but so are his wife, his parents and "half my lab."

There was another study recently in which one group of mice was again placed on a high-fat diet, and another group was placed on a high-fat diet but given, this time, 400 mg of resveratrol per kg (over 10 times the dose of the previous study). It was found that after three weeks, mice given the resveratrol supplement weighed only 20% more than mice on a standard diet, but those given the high-fat diet without the resveratrol weighed 60% more than the control mice. Physical endurance in mice given the resveratrol also improved.

The mechanism as to how this works is not entirely certain. It may be related to activation of an enzyme known as SIRT 1. Increasing activity of this enzyme appears to boost not only the number but also the activity of certain structures within mitochondria, the power plants of our cells.

In one study of 123 Finnish adults, it was found that those with variations in the enzyme had faster metabolism and burned energy more efficiently. Also, it's well-proven that when primates are placed on nutrient-dense, calorie restricted diets, the same genes and enzymes are activated, leading to a dramatic increase in health and life span. The only problem with this is most people consume a nutrient-depleted diet with empty calories at twice to three times this ideal level.

Results indicated that daily consumption of three to five glasses of red wine reduced all-cause mortality by an amazing 49% compared to non drinkers.