Resveratrol Benefits

The discovery of Resveratrol a couple years ago as a key to part of the "French Paradox" has led to further research to see if Resveratrol is truly a wonder drug. If it is, the benefits to humans can be amazing. The findings so far indicate that it may well be:

1. A cure for aging and improper diet:

Published in Current Biology, an Italian scientist found that Resveratrol more than doubled the life span of a species of fish known for its short 9 week lifespan. Another study, published in Nature showed that mice fed a high fat, high calorie diet were significantly less prone to showing signs of that diet when Resveratrol was included. The effects of this included a 30% lower mortality rate in the mice with Resveratrol in their diet versus those that did not receive the Resveratrol. Further indications of the efficacy of Resveratrol working were insulin and glucose levels more aligned with healthy mice. This study also showed how Resveratrol worked, by suppressing gene expression for genes that only begin working when an animal is being overfed. This gene is common to all mammals including humans. Most of the human trial research going on today is studying these effects. Due to the long lives of humans, human trials have to last years and human trial results will not be ready for another couple of years but the animal research is promising.

2. A cancer preventer

Animal studies, again, are very promising mostly due to the consistent and repeated results researchers are getting. The original study was done in 1997, showing that Resveratrol was effective in preventing skin cancer. The researchers are currently recruiting human subjects for colon cancer and melanoma, or skin cancer. Research on resveratrol benefits have found that resveratrol in cell culture studies inhibit all 3 stages of cancer including intiation, progression and promotion. Now Sirtris, the company headed by David Sinclair, is researching the benefits of resveratrol on cancer patients.

3. An athletic performance booster

In animal trials, animals given Resveratrol showed better treadmill endurance than the control group. For 15 weeks, the animals were put on treadmills and one group given supplements of Resveratrol. There have been no human studies to date; however the process that Resveratrol works by occurs naturally in some humans. Those that have this natural gene suppression typically show better natural endurance and scientist theorize that Resveratrol will work in a similar manner in humans.

4. A cure for Alzheimer’s?

A recent Resveratrol study showed that supplements of Resveratrol reduced the formation of plaque in the brain of animals. These plaques are typically seen in Alzheimer’s patients as well as other Neurodegenerative diseases. In humans, it is theorized that Resveratrol will not only help slow down Alzheimer’s but slow down the brain’s aging process in general, lending further credibility to the assertion that Resveratrol is a anti-aging wonder.

5. Protection from radiation

Published in 2008, a report in Science Daily indicated that Resveratrol may prevent damage from exposure to radiation. The goal is to begin developing a non toxic, anti radiation drug that can be easily administered. Human trials have not begun but are currently being planned.

What are the user reported resveratrol benefits as well as those shown by research? See this review by Matt Anderson of the benefits of resveratrol for longevity and anti aging. Want the best reveratrol supplements? Then find out right here in this review.