Resveratrol – the new kid on the science block

Science has dedicated itself to discovering and understanding the processes of our bodies in order to treat and prevent disease and illness. Discoveries along the way have led to a massive increase in both the life span of humans and in our ability to heal or prevent many diseases which troubled our ancestors. Resveratrol is a relatively new addition to the body of scientific work on human wellness and disease, and it is showing itself to be this generation's big discovery.

Resveratrol is part of a family of compounds called phytochemicals found in many plants, with red wine grapes having relatively high concentrations of Resveratrol present in the flesh and skins. These phytochemicals, or phytoalexins, protect the plants from bacteria and fungi. Early research on Resveratrol showed a similar effect in animals by reducing or even reversing metabolic problems in the animal test subjects. But not until recently has science been able to explain what effect Resveratrol has on the molecular and biological pathways in the cells of the body.

Sirtuins

Decades ago, research on animals showed that mice given a calorie-restricted diet of up to 50% of normal calories lived longer than their normally fed contemporaries. The calorie-restricted mice also had stronger bones and showed signs of better motor functioning. But most people find it impossible to maintain a calorie-restricted diet, so the benefits to humans remained elusive.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, researchers discovered that a family of genes called sirtuins might be responsible for the longevity and health of those calorie-restricted mice. Sirtuins are present in every cell of our bodies and seem to monitor the energy levels within the cell. Their action on longevity and cellular health is thought to be their action in triggering enzymes within the cell that help repair and prevent damage to the cell during times of famine.

Resveratrol switches on sirtuins

After discovering the sirtuin family, researchers then went on to find out which chemical compounds could trigger sirtuins to do their work. New findings show that Resveratrol switches on sirtuin genes in cells in much the same way as the calorie-restricted diet does. This initial finding stimulated billions of pounds worth of research into Resveratrol and has produced findings showing Resveratrol helping to reverse or reduce inflammation, reduce blood sugar levels, prevent fat from forming and protecting heart and nerve tissue from damage and degradation.

Resveratrol's presence in red wine may explain why Mediterranean diets seem to paradoxically contain more fats, yet show lower levels of cardiac and age-related metabolic diseases than in other Western diets. The race is on to provide more evidence of Resveratrol's role in preventing and reversing age-associated disease like diabetes, some forms of cancer and neurological diseases like Alzheimer's.

Research on Resveratrol continues

Because it is such a new area of cellular research, studies on the pathways that promote anti-aging in humans and the compounds that stimulate cellular protection are continuing. One thing is clear about the new kid on the science block – Resveratrol's popularity is gaining ground and its publicity is helping to fund a whole new series of studies into its role in helping prolong healthy living.