by Dan-N on August 10, 2010
Wow we are publishing a lot of articles on Resveratrol! It is not intentional, there have just been a slew of published studies on resveratrol released this summer.
The latest study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (yes it really is as exciting as the name makes it sound), shows that a relatively low dosage of resveratrol in humans can have significant health benefits.
Best Resveratrol Dosage Much Less Than Previously Reported
Husam Ghanim, PhD, of the University of Buffalo found that a dosage of 40 milligrams of resveratrol, taken once a day for six weeks, was able to reduce inflammation in test subjects. Inflammation in humans can lead to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes – so anything that reduces inflammation is of great interest.
In the study, Dr. Chanim took twenty volunteers and broke them into two even groups of ten. One group received a placebo pill for 6 weeks. The second group received a Polygonum cuspidatum extract (Japanese Knotweed) pill that contained 40 milligrams of resveratrol.
Fasting blood samples were taken throughout the study and here are the results…
“Results showed that resveratrol suppressed the generation of “free radicals” — unstable molecules known to cause oxidative stress and release pro-inflammatory substances into the blood, resulting in damage to the blood vessel lining.
People taking resveratrol also showed suppression of the inflammatory protein tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, and other compounds that increase blood vessel inflammation and interfere with insulin action, causing insulin resistance and the risk of developing diabetes.”
- WebMD, Resveratrol May Slow Aging in Humans, By Bill Hendrick
As for the placebo group – they showed no change in blood levels.
Why This Resveratrol Study is Significant
There are three elements that we believe make this study significant. First, the study was done with humans. Human studies are always more significant that mouse studies (sorry to any mice readers we have). Second, the study used only 40 milligrams of Resveratrol. This shows that resveratrol can be effective in a relatively small dosage. Third, the study used a Japanese Knotweed extract and this therefore lends credibility to resveratrol supplements currently on the market that are made with Japanese Knotweed.
So, is 40mg the Best Resveratrol Dosage for Humans?
Not sure. First, a much larger study would need to be done to draw really significant conclusions on the best resveratrol dosage for humans. Second, it is possible that something else in the extract was helping along with the resveratrol. Third, it would be interesting to see if 100mg or 200mg produces even better results.
In the end, this study does not prove that any one dosage of resveratrol is best – but it does put to rest the claim that you need to be taking mega-doses of resveratrol (400mg and up) to see any health benefits. In addition, the best way to avoid resveratrol side effects is to take the minimum amount required to produce positive results.
Additional Resources:
“An Antiinflammatory and Reactive Oxygen Species Suppressive Effects of an Extract of Polygonum Cuspidatum Containing Resveratrol.” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jun 9.
by Dan-N on August 2, 2010
The internet is filled with ads for resveratrol “free trial offers” that claim to help you lose incredible amounts of weight. If you use these advertised resveratrol “free trial” products you will lose weight… in your wallet! We have documented the resveratrol scams on this site and have put little weight into resveratrol weight loss claims (pardon the pun) – but now it looks like a legitimate study has shown some connection between resveratrol and weight loss.
Resveratrol and Weight Loss is There a Connection?
In a study published on 6/22/2010 in BMC Physiology, researchers from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris, France found that mouse lemurs (primates) who were given resveratrol decreased their energy intake by 13%, while increasing their resting metabolic rate by 29%. What makes the study very significant is that mouse lemurs are primates. I know, they have “mouse” in their name, but they are primates, not rodents. As far as we know, this is the first time that resveratrol has been shown to increase resting metabolic rate in primates.
Resveratrol, Weight Loss and Primates
We could give our take on what the study showed, but why not give an exact quote of the Conclusions from the study itself -
“In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time the short-term effects of resveratrol on the metabolism of an heterothermic primate. Resveratrol activates energy expenditure by inducing an increase in resting metabolic rate and a decrease in torpor patterns that play key roles in energy saving in this primate. Moreover, resveratrol had a satiety effect in this primate that reduced their spontaneous food intake. All of these changes participated in the limitation of pre-wintering fattening processes in which the increase in the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide levels would play an additive role. These results provide novel information on the potential effects of resveratrol on energy metabolism and control of body mass in a primate.”
- Resveratrol suppresses body mass gain in a seasonal non-human primate model of obesity, 6/22/10
In laymen terms, resveratrol increased metabolism, increased satiety, decreased weight and decreased the need for food in lemurs while maintaining energy levels.
So the Free Trial Resveratrol Products Really Will Help me Lose Weight?
No, no and NO! The “free trial” resveratrol products are very low quality resveratrol supplements and automatically bill you for their inferior supplements every month. You really want to AVOID any “free trial” resveratrol supplement.
Will a 99% Pure Trans-Resveratrol Supplement Help Me Lose Weight?
Yes… if you are a lemur! While our blog is well read, I don’t think we reach many lemurs. While lemurs are primates, and results in non-human primates may translate to humans, much more research needs to be done. We do feel that more and more research in showing strong potential health benefits from resveratrol, but we still need to determine the best resveratrol dosage for humans. So, if you take a pure resveratrol supplement like the Perfect ResGrape Resveratrol for all the other health benefits and also end up losing some weight – you can thank us later!
by Dan-N on July 29, 2010
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have conducted a study in mice that shows a promising new way to treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease. The study focused on the role that Sirtuin, a protein in the body. played in neurodegenerative diseases. What they found was activating sirtuin suppressed the disease and that destroying sirtuin made the disease much worse.
Sirtuin – The Longevity Protein and Key to Health?
In our article on Resveratrol Health Benefits we define and explain Sirtuin . The Sirtuin gene has been shown to have some strong possible connections with longevity and health. In our discussion on Resveratrol we focus on its ability to increase Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), but there are 7 different Sirtuin genes in the body. This research shows that stimulating Sirtuin production can have significant health benefits.
Gizem Donmez and Leonard Guarente of MIT were able to modify mice to make them more prone to developing Alzheimer’s disease. They then activated sirtuin in one group and saw that the progression of Alzheimer’s was suppressed. A second set of mice had their sirtuin destroyed and the Alzheimer’s progressed at a much faster pace.
No. We know some resveratrol companies will now start claiming that resveratrol can stop Alzheimer’s, and that would not be accurate.
Researchers not involved in the study agreed. “We think it is a scientifically compelling story that ties the sirtuins to the biology of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Dennis J. Selkoe, an Alzheimer’s expert at Harvard Medical School. But the therapeutic implications, Dr. Selkoe added, “remain quite up in the air.”
-Potential Found in a New Approach to Alzheimer’s, New York Times, 7/23/10
One problem is that resveratrol does not pass the blood-brain barrier at this time, so this study could not be replicated with resveratrol. In addition, the study was done with mice and not humans.
Sirtuin Research – A Field to Watch
We believe it is an exciting time for Sirtuin Research. Much more research has to be done, but the idea of activating Sirtuin to reduce disease risk is an area that should be actively explored.
by Dan-N on July 19, 2010
We all know about the mythical “beer goggles” – where you drink too much and suddenly all types of people start to look attractive. Well, beer may not give you super vision, but drinking a lot of wine could do the trick!
New Study Shows Resveratrol May Help Prevent Vision Loss
A new study done at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis says that resveratrol – a compound found in muscadine grapes, red grapes and resveratrol supplements – may prove useful in preventing the vision loss associated with diabetes and old age.
The study, which was conducted on mice, found that resveratrol may help prevent out of control blood vessel growth in the eye. The extra blood vessel growth is angiogenesis, and if you can keep angiogenesis in check you can keep some of the most serious vision disorders in check.
What Causes Blindness and Vision Loss
Macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over 50, is caused by out of control blood vessel growth. The ability for resveratrol to stop this blood vessel growth could have major implications. In addition, the study shows that resveratrol may also help with diabetic retinopathy, a disease that causes vision loss in about 20 percent of people with diabetes, and retinopathy of prematurity, a condition that strikes some premature babies.
“This could potentially be a preventive therapy in high-risk patients,” said Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD – researcher for the study. Dr. Apte also cautions there is much more work to be done and this study was done with mice, not humans, but it is a promising start.
Read the Full Study on Resveratrol and Vision Loss
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