What we know about the health effects of Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant that occurs, for example, in red wine. In recent years there has been a real hype about this miracle cure, which is also available as a food supplement. What do we know about the effects of resveratrol?
Anti-aging and longevity
As the most potent, and thus least metabolized, antioxidant found in the human body, and in any animal, resveratrol’s actions and influence on the body are far-reaching. Studies show that resveratrol exerts significant anti-aging effects through a variety of mechanisms, including increasing lifespan in yeast and mice.
By boosting SIRT6’s antioxidant activity and reducing free radicals in the cells, resveratrol can reduce cell death, increase cell regeneration, and slow down cellular aging. In a study published in Science Translational Medicine, the researchers demonstrated that SIRT6 activates genes involved in the metabolism of free radicals, which helps cells cope better with oxidative stress.
It has also been shown to improve the function and diversity of immune cells, improve glucose metabolism, regulate metabolism, and lower blood pressure.
However, these effects have so far only been proven in animal experiments. Reliable studies on humans are still lacking. Nevertheless, many scientists already rely on the beneficial effects of resveratrol and use it privately.
Cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease
Resveratrol also may reduce the rate of tumor growth in mice. It has also been shown to be protective against some forms of cancer, such as breast cancer.
As for cancer, research is now showing that carnosine, one of the compounds in resveratrol, can stimulate the metabolism of certain types of cancer cells. In a study conducted in rats, carnosine reduced the growth of cancer cells in two different ways. First, it reduced the metabolism of the tumor cells by activating the enzyme cytochrome p450. Second, it accelerated the metabolism of healthy cells.
Resveratrol may also be an effective therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, and it reduces the risk of a heart attack in some people.
Some research has shown that resveratrol can improve heart function in humans. It may also be useful for treating cardiovascular disease. In addition to its ability to reduce inflammation, resveratrol has been shown to inhibit the formation of new blood clots.
The effects of resveratrol on the heart may not be as well-studied as those seen with some other drugs. Still, the latest research, conducted at the University of Illinois, suggests that resveratrol improves heart function in older people.
Resveratrol is found in high amounts in dark chocolate, which has also been associated with reduced risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. A large study in people showed that the consumption of dark chocolate could reduce the risk of heart attack by 40 percent. Resveratrol also may have some positive effects on cholesterol levels. However, further research is needed to establish.
Brain and Memory
However, the scientific community recognized for a long time that resveratrol’s action on humans was only partially understood. There were few studies investigating resveratrol’s effects on the brain, the most prominent of which showed that resveratrol could enhance memory in laboratory animals.
Resveratrol’s effectiveness in the brain and memory functions could be due to resveratrol’s effects on the activity of the brain’s serotonin system, which has also been shown to be involved in learning, memory, and other mental functions.
The results were not as positive when it came to human subjects. Resveratrol was not a good choice for enhancing brain function and may have been harmful, but it had potential as a potential treatment for a range of neurological diseases.
Resveratrol may help with brain damage, but the mechanisms for this are unclear and not fully understood. It may enhance learning and memory in humans but may have harmful effects on some regions of the brain, such as the hippocampus.
anxiety and depression
In animal studies, resveratrol appears to have antidepressant properties by activating the brain’s serotonin transporter (SERT). SERT is a receptor that regulates levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline.
In studies of rats and mice, resveratrol has been shown to suppress the effects of chronic stress by decreasing anxiety, lowering blood pressure, increasing heart rate, and reducing depressive symptoms. Also, resveratrol has been shown to improve cognition and prevent age-related brain damage.
Blood sugar and inflammation
Resveratrol has also been shown to lower blood sugar levels, decrease glucose levels, and improve insulin levels, thereby improving metabolic function. Resveratrol can also improve the health of liver and kidney function. In one study, a combination of resveratrol and an amino acid, leucine, reduced the incidence of liver reperfusion injury, a type of damage that may cause inflammation and liver damage. Resveratrol also appears to prevent the formation of toxic molecules, such as nitric oxide (NO) and thioredoxin, that can damage blood vessels, tissues, and organs.
Another study showed that resveratrol and another type of amino acid, L-arginine, promoted the expression of human leukocyte adhesion molecule (HLA) genes, indicating that the resveratrol can play an essential role in the development and maintenance of the immune system.
Conclusion
Resveratrol is a promising and, according to current knowledge, risk-free dietary supplement. At least in extensive and repeated animal and cell studies, astonishing effects could be proven.
First studies in humans were made or are in preparation. Also, here, there are first results, which make optimistic, but still further and broader studies are needed to be able to make clear statements.
Whether resveratrol has a life-prolonging or anticarcinogenic effect cannot yet be assessed. However, positive effects on chronic inflammation and heart health are considered certain.
So I will continue to take resveratrol, as I have done for about a year now.
Sources
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41698-017-0038-6
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1053811918302337
http://othes.univie.ac.at/5917/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00391-012-0415-2
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21688389
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/resveratrol
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