Scientists are discovering significant preventive and therapeutic potential from resveratrol in fighting age-related diseases such as cardio-vascular disease, the metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s.

It has long been known that caloric restriction slows the pace of aging. Now scientists are finding that resveratrol mimics the life-span-prolonging effects of caloric restriction also. Until recently, however, scientists haven’t known why drastic dieting increased longevity. Now they believe it is a type of protein called sirtuins. Sirtuins stabilize the DNA to prevent damage that can lead to age-related diseases as well as promoting DNA repair.

The benefits of resveratrol seem to be growing as more and more research is done. Here is some of the benefits.

Cardiovascular

Many studies have shown the impact of resveratrol on reducing the risks of heart disease and the damage from strokes. Some of these discoveries include the reduction of atherosclerosis, inflammation, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) oxidation, and a reduced “stickiness” of platelets leading to a reduction in deadly clot formation.

• Findings show that resveratrol not only may prevent a cardiovascular event but it may reverse the damage should one occur.
• Stroke is another devastating outcome of atherosclerosis. Through its activation of sirtuin molecules, resveratrol can prevent injury to brain cells.
• Researchers have also measured how platelet aggregation or “clumping” which is an important factor in clot formation in heart attacks and strokes is affected by resveratrol. They found that there was an increase in nitric oxide which lowers the amount of clumping.
• In the studies being conducted, the supplemented animals  also had reductions in their blood pressure.

Lower Cholesterol

Scientists have now established a relationship between resveratrol, inflammation, blood lipids, immune cells, and the cells lining arterial walls. In studies with mice, they had consistently

• Lower total cholesterol and LDL levels than did control animals as well as consistently higher levels of beneficial HDL (high-density lipoprotein).
• Also, the resveratrol-supplemented group saw higher levels of an enzyme called paraoxonase, which is an HDL-associated protein that prevents the LDL oxidation. In addition, the cholesterol-producing enzyme HMG-CoA-reductase (HMGR) was significantly lower. The prescription drugs called statins are used to control HMGR activity.

Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome

Type 2 diabetes is associated with development of the metabolic syndrome, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Studies have established beyond doubt that red wine consumption is associated with a lower incidence of metabolic syndrome and heart disease. Resveratrol helps regulate glucose levels in the blood of diabetic patients while delivering glucose to skeletal muscles. In fact, resveratrol’s activation of sirtuins is so effective that many researchers are now interested in its use as a potential drug for the treatment of diabetes.

In endless studies, resveratrol continues to mimic many of the metabolic benefits of caloric restriction through its activation of sirtuins, without the deprivation associated with a reduced calorie diet. There will undoubtedly be more results from the myriad of studies being conducted. It seems that resveratrol may be a life-changing substance.

As a side note – resveratrol does quickly dissipate when in contact with oxygen.  The level of resveratrol in wine will be drastically reduced in a bottle that is open overnight. Which also means that supplements on the market that do NOT guarantee the potency of resveratrol may have very little.  Check the label for guaranteed potency.

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