Why Red Wine?

A natural substance found in red wine can extend life and counter the negative effects of an unhealthy high-fat diet, a study has found. The findings may go some way to explain the "French paradox" of a national diet rich in animal fats apparently not resulting in excessive deaths from heart disease. The study was carried out on mice fed on a diet so high in saturated fats that it was equivalent to eating a cream cake with every meal. Mice on the fatty diet became obese, suffered health disorders such as liver and heart disease, and died significantly earlier than mice on normal diets. But when a second group of mice on the high-fat diet were given resveratrol, a plant extract found in grapes, their health and longevity were almost indistinguishable from normal mice, although they still became obese. Resveratrol has already been shown to extend the lifespan of yeast, worms, flies and fish, but this is the first study to demonstrate the same effects on warm-blooded mammals. "After six months, resveratrol essentially prevented most of the negative effects of the high-calorie diet in mice," said Rafael de Cabo of the U.S. National Institute on Aging. The study, published in the journal Nature, demonstrated that resveratrol changed the metabolism of the mice in such a way that they were more protected against the side effects of an unhealthy diet, said Professor David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School in Boston. Resveratrol is produced by a range of plants in response to environmental stress and appears to work by activating a key gene in mammals called SIRT1 which produces an enzyme linked to extending lifespan. resveratrol Principal Proposed Uses · There are no well-documented uses for resveratrol Other Proposed Uses Heart Disease Cancer Prevention You may have heard of the "French paradox." The French diet is very high in saturated fat and cholesterol (just think of pate de fois gras and croissants), yet France has one of the world's lowest rates of heart disease. One theory for this apparent discrepancy is that another major player in the French diet—red wine—protects the arteries of the heart. Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant found in red wine. Antioxidants protect cells in the body from damage by free radicals, naturally occurring but harmful substances that are thought to play a role in cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol is also a phytoestrogen, a substance that mimics some of the effects of estrogen, while blocking others. Soy, another phytoestrogen, is thought to help prevent heart disease as well as cancer, and resveratrol might have similar effects. However, as yet none of these potential benefits of resveratrol have been fully documented. Sources Resveratrol is not an essential nutrient. It is found in red wine as well as in red grape skins and seeds and purple grape juice. Peanuts also contain a small amount of resveratrol. Resveratrol supplements are available as well. Therapeutic Dosages Because there havent been any clinical studies, the optimal therapeutic dosage hasnt been established for resveratrol. Based on animal studies, a reasonable therapeutic dosage of resveratrol might be about 500 mg daily. Therapeutic Uses Very preliminary evidence such as the results of test tube studies suggests that resveratrol may help prevent heart disease, 2–5and cancer. 9–14 However, not all studies have been favorable. 6,7,8,15 In any case, only double-blind studies can prove a treatment effective, and none have been reported with resveratrol. (For information on why such studies are essential, see Why Does The Natural Pharmacist Rely on Double-Blind Studies?) Safety Issues Resveratrol has a chemical structure similar to that of the synthetic estrogenic hormone diethylstilbestrol and it has estrogenic effects. According to one study, it might stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells. 15 For this reason, resveratrol should be avoided by women who have had breast cancer or are at high risk of developing it. Maximum safe dosages for children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease have not been determined.

References
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9: Jang M, Cai L, Udeani GO, et al. Cancer chemopreventive activity of resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes. Science. 1997;275:218–220.

10: Mgbonyebi OP, Russo J, Russo IH. Antiproliferative effect of synthetic resveratrol on human breast epithelial cells. Int J Oncol. 1998;12:865–869.

11: Subbaramaiah K, Chung WJ, Michaluart P, et al. Resveratrol inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 transcription and activity in phorbol ester-treated human mammary epithelial cells. J Biol Chem. 1998;273:21875–21882..

12: Clement MV, Hirpara JL, Chawdhury SH, et al. Chemopreventive agent resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes, triggers CD95 signaling-dependent apoptosis in human tumor cells. Blood. 1998;92:996–1002.

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14: ElAttar TM, Virji AS. Modulating effect of resveratrol and quercetin on oral cancer cell growth and proliferation. Anticancer Drugs. 1999;10:187–193.

15: Gehm BD, McAndrews JM, Chien PY, et al. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound found in grapes and wine, is an agonist for the estrogen receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997;94:14138–14143.

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