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Resveratrol: Could It Be The Magic Solution to Aging?

Promoting Longevity and Great Health with Resveratrol

For some time now, resveratrol has been a center of attention in the anti-aging circle. You may have even heard some people talking about its “awesome” benefits in the media. It supposedly helps to fight a variety of common age-related diseases and facilitates graceful aging.

But you may be one of those who do not easily buy into “hypes.” Actually, you are right to be suspicious of this substance on the basis of past experiences. We have seen things promoted as the ultimate anti-aging solution failing to live up to expectation. Where does resveratrol fall and what can it do? Join us as we take a closer look at this supposed anti-aging agent.

Resveratrol Overview

Resveratrol is a compound usually found in plants. The stilbenoid is a type of polyphenol that possessing antioxidant properties, which is a major reason why it is believed to be very beneficial for good health. You can find it included in a variety of healthful products, including foods and drinks, these days as a result.

Certain plants produce resveratrol naturally. Interestingly, they do this, partly, for the purpose of self-protection. The phytoalexin helps to protect a plant when it is under attack from fungi, bacteria and other pathogens. It also makes it easier for such to rebound from injuries and harmful effects of ultraviolet rays.

Besides being powerful antioxidants, resveratrol also exhibits activity of the hormone estrogen. This is why it is called a phytoestrogen, plant-based estrogen. It is able to bind to the receptors of this hormone to produce similar effects.

In term of chemistry, the compound is mainly available as two geometric isomers, namely: cis- and trans-resveratrol. This can either exist freely or bound to glucose. Through ultraviolet irradiation, the trans- (E) isomer can transform to the cis- (Z) form.

How Does It Work?

Some experts think that this plant compound delivers its benefits mainly as a result of how it impacts inflammatory activity. How does this happen? Research suggests that it is able to do this through its effects on phospholipase D and sphingosine kinase. It interferes with the ability of your body to produce these molecules.

Now, inflammation is not necessarily a bad thing. It is useful for healing and protection against infections. Real problem only exists when it becomes chronic or ever-present. This can cause tissue damage and hasten your aging clock.

Resveratrol also contributes to mitochondrial function. The mitochondrion is commonly described as the "powerhouse" of the cell. It provides energy necessary for cells to work efficiently.

This compound has powerful antioxidant properties that help prevent damage by free radicals. It facilitates efficient blood circulation and hormone production.

Health Benefits of Resveratrol

There are certain foods people have long felt were beneficial to health but never able to fathom why. Such is the case with red wine.

In spite of eating foods most health conscious people would advise against these days, the French were observed to have less cardiovascular issues but still side effects of alcohol were still observed. This led to what is known as the "French paradox." It turned out the wine they consumed in large quantity played a role but not for its alcohol content.

Researchers later found that red wine contains resveratrol. Several studies released over the years showed that the presence of this natural phenol not alcohol explains a variety of health benefits linked to red wine. Let's take a closer look at some of the things they say this compound can do.

Support for younger looking skin

Resveratrol is known more for its benefits when consumed. But some researchers claim it also offers a good topical solution for fighting skin aging and wrinkles.

Again, the usefulness of its antioxidant properties comes to the fore here. Resveratrol can protect you against the damage free radicals can cause to skin cells. It eliminates these harmful agents already present and prevents formation of more.

You may be amazed to learn that its antioxidant properties are more potent and efficient than those of vitamins C and E. Also, researchers found in a study that its antioxidant activity is about 17 times greater than that of idebenone, a costly ingredient used in some anti-wrinkle creams.

According to research, the compound protects against skin damage from ultraviolet radiation. It also promotes production of collagen and proliferation of healthy skin cells.

However, a 2011 study in Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics concluded that there was no evidence that resveratrol helps the human skin, whether used orally or topically.

Boost in heart health

If you want to put your heart in great state, you may try resveratrol. One of the ways it helps is by fighting inflammation.

It also assists in lowering the amount of harmful fats in the blood. As you may be aware, these can lead to atherosclerosis or plaque buildup in the blood vessels. Resveratrol keeps low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) low. This ensures proper circulation.

In a study, researchers gave subjects grape extract enriched with resveratrol and observed the effects. They found that LDL levels and oxidation fell by 4.5 percent and 20 percent respectively at the end of six-month treatment among the treated subjects, compared to those who took ordinary grape extract or a placebo.

LDL oxidation is what gives rise to plaque buildup in artery walls, causing atherosclerosis.

You may also be able to keep high blood pressure at bay with resveratrol. A review of studies showed that the compound could lower systolic blood pressure, which typically rises as people get older. It facilitates nitric oxide production, thus causing blood vessels to relax.

Improvement in Brain Health

There is the belief that resveratrol may help your brain to function better. This is due to the combination of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. As you may be aware, several studies have shown that the resveratrol-rich red wine can slow cognitive decline due to aging.

The properties present in the compound make it useful in protecting against damage to the brain cells. It is unlike several other substances exhibiting antioxidant activity. Some say resveratrol can cross the blood-brain barrier. This makes it potentially more beneficial for enhancing mental health.

Researchers at Northunbria University's Nutrition Research Center also found that this compound enhanced blood flow to the brain. By this, it ensures availability of oxygen and nutrients that promotes efficient functioning.

There is also claim that resveratrol can protect you against Alzheimer's disease. This is on the basis of observation that it appears to inhibit beta-amyloids. These protein fragments contribute to the formation of plaques seen in people with this scary mental condition.

However, there is inconclusive evidence as to whether this substance can be beneficial to Alzheimer's patients. Researchers found in a one-year, preliminary clinical trial that daily use of resveratrol (2 grams) improved some biomarkers of the condition. But certain other biomarkers, including progressive dementia, were not impacted.

There is ongoing research to find out if the compound can help protect against secondary damage following an acute brain trauma or ischemic stroke.

Enhancement of Insulin Sensitivity

It appears people with diabetes or prediabetes may benefit from resveratrol. Some researchers consider it a potential treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. This assertion is mainly on the basis of evidence from animal studies.

Scientists have demonstrated that it can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce hyperglycemia. It reduces the risk of complications from prediabetes and diabetes, including nerve and heart damage.

A major mechanism that makes resveratrol potentially helpful to diabetics is the effect on sorbitol. It may inhibit the production of this sugar alcohol from glucose. This keeps it from having high levels in the body, high enough to cause oxidative stress that damages cells.

Resveratrol also helps by activating the protein AMPK, which helps your body to use up glucose. It also lowers the risk of inflammation, a key contributor to diabetes and other chronic diseases.

In-vitro research showed this compound as an agonist of the nuclear receptor Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma. This is under investigation as a possible treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Protection Against Cancer

The fact that resveratrol possesses antioxidant properties makes it potentially useful for guarding against cancer. As you may know, the activity of free radicals is a factor in the occurrence of this scary condition. These cause damage to cells and increase risk of early death.

According to experts, it interferes with the process of cancer development at different stages, including tumor initiation and progression. The influence on inflammatory response is especially crucial in the ability of resveratrol to hinder cancer cell growth.

It can disrupt the expression of certain hormones that may be favorable to cancer development and spreading. Experts say resveratrol can alter the expression of genes in cancer cells to hinder their growth and replication.

Evidence from studies done using test tubes or animals indicates that prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer are among the types the compound can offer help against.

Increase in Lifespan

Although there has been significant improvement in medicine, many people are still not living as long as they possibly can. Unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle choices are the main culprits here. Research suggests that resveratrol may help enhance longevity.

This natural compound helps to check the activity of free radicals that can speed up the aging process. As a result, cells are preserved and kept from premature death.

Animal studies show that resveratrol does indeed increase lifespan. It achieves this in similar manner as calorie restriction. The substance assists in activating genes that prevents onset of age-related medical conditions.

However, it is not clear if resveratrol can produce similar effect in humans. Evidence suggests that it enhances longevity by the greatest degree in lesser animals, such as fish and worms. These are less related to humans, though.

Prevention of Obesity

Research has also shown that resveratrol can help you maintain a healthy body weight. This is as a result of its ability to activate the SIRT1 gene. This gene has attracted significant interest in recent years as a means of enhancing longevity. It protects against effects of obesity and age-related diseases.

Animal studies have revealed that resveratrol can prevent accumulation of fat in the body. It reduced adipose tissue and body weight in obese animals.

Help for Joint Health

It turned out you can even put your joints in good shape using this natural compound. Some researchers found that its use as a supplement helped to keep cartilage from breaking down. Deterioration of the cartilage is often seen in arthritic people and can lead to joint pain.

Research has shown that the substance may help prevent damage to joints. It fights inflammation that can cause issues.

Good Sources of Resveratrol

Red wine just happens to be the most popular source of resveratrol however it's alcohol content makes it undesirable for its very harmful effects on the brain; it is not the only one thankfully. You can find it in green and red grape juices, albeit in significantly lower quantities.

You can obtain resveratrol from the skin of grapes, mulberries, blueberries, cranberries and raspberries, among others. Peanut plants, pine trees, cocoa bushes, and knotweeds are also good sources of the compound. Certain types of teas, such as Itadori tea, offer it as well.

The forms of resveratrol you get depend on the sources. Red grapes provides both cis- and trans-resveratrol.

You can also get resveratrol supplements in stores. The sales of these dietary supplements increased significantly following the release of findings from animal studies on benefits. These products vary in purity. Resveratrol content in most offerings ranges between 50 and 99 percent.

But, as is the case with most natural health supplements, many medical experts do not support the use of these supplements. An argument is that there are no studies showing their usefulness in humans.

However, when it comes to safety, it appears you don't have much to fear about if you get a good product and do not take too high doses.

Resveratrol Side Effects

This compound is well tolerated and safe, especially when used in proper doses. You are not very likely to have a problem when you are getting it from food sources. Side effects are more of a concern when using supplements.

One problem with knowing the right dose to use is that there is no standard. Daily dosages typically range from just 250 mg to as high as 2 grams. Researchers have used up to 5 grams a day in studying the effects of the compound.

The right dosage will differ between individuals. But how do you tell what is right for you? Doctor's guidance may be needed in this regard. Alternatively, you can start with low doses and increase the amount you take gradually to observe for adverse effects.

Side effects that have been reported from use of high doses (2 grams or higher) include:

Nausea
Diarrhea
Weight loss
Gastrointestinal disorders

If you suffer from bleeding disorder, you need to watch how you use resveratrol supplements. Test-tube research showed that high doses keep blood from clotting. You should also have this in mind if you are on blood thinners, such as warfarin or heparin.

There is also the risk of certain medications building up to harmful levels in the body. Resveratrol can impede the clearing of these from the body through enzyme activity. Immunosuppressants and blood pressure medications are examples of such drugs.

Big Pharma and Resveratrol

It is not common for major pharmaceutical companies to put their weight behind natural remedies. Some people argue that they won't support such because there is no opportunity for them to make awesome profits. Perhaps, as a result of this, Big Pharma has long contested the benefits of resveratrol.

Cynics say pharmaceutical companies are less likely to support anything they cannot patent nor have exclusive rights to. Leading drug maker GlaxoSmithKline somehow proved this to be the case when it acquired the rights to synthetic versions of resveratrol in 2008.

The drugs, which appeared to have been developed by Harvard University professor David Sinclair, were expected to make people live up to 150 years. Like the natural compound, they target the protein SIRT1, which, when activated, can help to prevent a variety of age-related diseases and promote longevity.

People working on the GlaxoSmithKline project said these drugs will have stronger activity than resveratrol. They were up to 100 times more powerful than a glass of red wine!

Sinclair noted that these drugs would mimic the effects of healthy diet and exercise. He suggested that daily use of these synthetic activators via the oral route could someday help to prevent age-related issues.

Some years back, GlaxoSmithKline terminated a small-scale clinical trial of a high-dose, proprietary variant of resveratrol called SRT501 due to safety issues. In that trial, it used daily dosage of up to 5 grams! What is not clear is whether the pharmaceutical giant has completely abandoned its search for a synthetic alternative to the natural compound.

The interest shown by GlaxoSmithKline, however, seems to lend credence to prior research into the benefits of resveratrol.

While it can help, this compound doesn't look like the magic anti-aging bullet you might expect it to be. Loading up on it won't necessarily make you live longer - at least, there is insufficient research on benefits in humans. There is no standard dosage for specific benefits. Some experts even argue that the amounts you can get in food and drinks are insufficient to deliver jaw-dropping results.

You should consider it more as a part of healthy lifestyle choices. Continue to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly. These will work in synergy to improve results. It's better to get your resveratrol from natural sources, instead of supplements.

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REFERENCES

Resveratrol Supplements: Side Effects and Benefits (https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/resveratrol-supplements)

7 Health Benefits of Resveratrol Supplements (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/resveratrol)

Resveratrol Benefits, Resveratrol Sources & More - Dr. Axe (https://draxe.com/all-about-resveratrol/)

Resveratrol - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resveratrol)

Topical Resveratrol Combats Skin Aging | Life Extension (http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2011/11/topical-resveratrol-combats-skin-aging/page-01)

New drug being developed using compound found in red wine 'could help humans live until they are 150' | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2291254/New-drug-developed-using-compound-red-wine-help-humans-live-150.html)

Big Pharma Robs Compound From Grapes, Makes Patented Drug They Claim Will Help People Live to 150 Years (https://healthimpactnews.com/2013/big-pharma-robs-compound-from-grapes-makes-patented-drug-they-claim-will-help-people-live-to-150-years/)