Resveratrol: For a Long Life and Healthy Aging

Gramdma Leather JacketResveratol [rez-ˈvir-ə-ˌtrȯl] is a naturally occurring phenol found in blueberries, peanuts, cocoa, and red grapes, and a small amount in red wine.  It has deservedly received a lot of media attention because of its effects on longevity and cardiovascular health.

Uses

Life Extension and Healthy Aging.

The end sections of chromosomes that are involved in replication and prevent the chromosome from coming undone are called telomers.  Simply put, the shorter the telomere, the less life a person has to live. One study indicated that people with short telomeres were 10 times more likely to get cancer and twice as likely to die from cancer. 1

Resveratrol has been shown to slow down the shortening of telomeres on the SRT-1 gene which may result in life extension.

Protects the Heart.

Resveratrol may reduce the risk of heart disease2 and demonstrates cardioprotective effects.3  Its positive effects in fighting atherosclerosis have been demonstrated by its ability to inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle,4, 5 and to inhibit the expression of adhesion molecules in endothelial cells.6, 7

Powerful Antioxidant.

Resveratrol’s antioxidant properties may be superior to Vitamin C and Vitamin E due to its hydrophilic and lipophillic properties.8

Lowers Cholesterol.

Resveratrol helps metabolize lipids and inhibits the oxidation of low-desity lipoproteins (LDL).9

Protects the Brain.

Resveratrol has a neuroprotective effect that may decrease the risk of developing alzheimers and other neurodegenerative diseases. 10

Cancer Prevention and Reversal.

Many studies indicate that it may prevent and reverse certain types of cancer.11, 12, 13, 14

Lowers Blood Sugar.

Resveratrol has been shown to significantly lower blood sugar. A proprietary formulation has been patented and is being studied in treating diabetes.15, 16

Protects the Liver and Helps Reverse Liver Damage.

Studies indicate that resveratrol is hepatoprotective,17 it may reverse liver damage from toxins and radiation,18, 19, 20 and it alleviates symptoms of fatty liver disease.21

Poor Bioavailability

Resveratrol has shown good absorption, but poor bioavailability.  This is probably due to rapid metabolism by the liver.22  This issue can be resolved by sublingual or buccal administration.  Rapid dissolve tablets deliver the dose through the oral mucosa and then directly into the blood stream.

References

  1. Armanios M, Alder J, Parry E, Karim B, Strong M, Greider C. “Short Telomeres are Sufficient to Cause the Degenerative Defects Associated with Aging.” Am J Hum Genet. 2009 December 11; 85(6): 823–832.
  2. Kopp P.  “Resveratrol, a phytoestrogen found in red wine. A possible explanation for the conundrum of the ‘French paradox’?”. European Journal of Endocrinology. 1998 June; 138 (6): 619–20.
  3. Das DK, Maulik N (February 2006). “Resveratrol in cardioprotection: a therapeutic promise of alternative medicine”. Molecular Interventions 6 (1): 36–47.
  4. Mnjoyan ZH, Fujise K. Profound negative regulatory effects by resveratrol on vascular smooth muscle cells: a role of p53-p21(WAF1/CIP1) pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003;311(2):546-552.
  5. Haider UG, Sorescu D, Griendling KK, Vollmar AM, Dirsch VM. Resveratrol increases serine15-phosphorylated but transcriptionally impaired p53 and induces a reversible DNA replication block in serum-activated vascular smooth muscle cells. Mol Pharmacol. 2003;63(4):925-932.
  6. Carluccio MA, Siculella L, Ancora MA, et al. Olive oil and red wine antioxidant polyphenols inhibit endothelial activation: antiatherogenic properties of Mediterranean diet phytochemicals. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2003;23(4):622-629.
  7. Ferrero ME, Bertelli AE, Fulgenzi A, et al. Activity in vitro of resveratrol on granulocyte and monocyte adhesion to endothelium. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;68(6):1208-1214.
  8. Chanvitayapongs S, Draczynska-Lusiak B, Sun AY. Amelioration of oxidative stress by antioxidants and resveratrol in PC12 cells. Neuroreport. 1997; 8:1499-1502.
  9. Frémont L. Biological effects of resveratrol. Life Sciences. 2000; 66(8): 663-673.
  10. Karuppagounder SS, Pinto JT, Xu H, Chen HL, Beal MF, Gibson GE (February 2009). “Dietary supplementation with resveratrol reduces plaque pathology in a transgenic model of Alzheimer’s disease”. Neurochemistry International 54 (2): 111–8
  11. Jang M, et al. Cancer chemopreventative activity of resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes.” Science. 1997; 275 (5297): 218-20.
  12. Baur JA, Sinclair DA. (2006). “Therapeutic potential of resveratrol: the in vivo evidence”. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2006; 5 (6): 493–506
  13. Athar M, Back JH, Tang X, et al. “Resveratrol: a review of preclinical studies for human cancer prevention”. Toxicology & Applied Pharmacology. 2007; 224 (3): 274–83.
  14. Li ZG, Hong T, Shimada Y, Komoto I, Kawabe A, Ding Y, Kaganoi J, Hashimoto Y, Imamura M. “Suppression of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced esophageal tumorigenesis in F344 rats by resveratrol”. Carcinogenesis. 2002; 23 (9): 1531–6.
  15. Elliott PJ, Jirousek M. “Sirtuins: novel targets for metabolic disease”. Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs. 2008; 9 (4): 371–8.
  16. “Sirtris Announces SRT501 Lowers Glucose in Twice-Daily Dosing Clinical Trial; Study Suggests Dose Response for Proprietary Formulation of Resveratrol in Type 2 Diabetics” 2010. http://www.drugs.com/clinical_trials/sirtris-announces-srt501-lowers-glucose-twice-daily-dosing-clinical-trial-study-suggests-response-4002.html.
  17. Rivera H, Shibayama M, Tsutsumi M, Tsutsumi V, Perez-Alavrez V, Muriel P. Resveratrol and trimethylated resveratrol protect from acute liver damage induced by CC14 in the rat. J Appl Toxicol. 2008; 28(2):147-55.
  18. Hong S, et. al. The protective effect of resveratrol on dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Archives of Pharmacal Research 33(4): 601-609.
  19. Sha H, Ma Q, et. al.  Resveratrol ameliorates hepatic injury via the mitochondrial pathway in rats with severe acute pancreatitis. Eur J Pharmacol.  2008.
  20. Velioğlu-Oğünç, Sehirli O, Ozyurt H, et al. Resveratrol protects against irradiation-induced hepatic and ileal damage via its anti-oxidative activity. Free Radic Res. 2009; 43(11): 1060-71.
  21. Joanne M. Ajmo, et. al. Resveratrol alleviates alcoholic fatty liver in mice. American Journal of Pysiology. 2008; 295(4):833-842.
  22. Walle T, Hsich F, DeLegge M, Oatis, J, Walle U. “High absorption but very low bioavailablity of oral resveratrol in humans.”

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