No Health Benefits For Middle-Aged Women Taking Resveratrol

A study conducted on resveratrol has revealed it does not offer any health benefits on healthy middle-aged women.

The compound resveratrol is found in high concentration in the skin of grapes. Resveratrol is produced naturally by several plants, including grapes, when pathogens such as bacteria or fungi form a threat to the plant.

According to proponents of resveratrol, it activates the sirtuin gene. The sirtuin gene is an inactive gene. It is believed that when activated, it starts a survival process that extends life by slowing down aging.

Aside from increasing longevity, it is also thought to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce risk of heart disease. There are studies that suggest that drinking red wine lowers the risk of health problems. Red wine is said to have two times more average resveratrol concentration than the equivalent commercial juices.

New Research on Resveratrol Enhances Claim That The Compound Prolongs Lifespan and Healthspan

Resveratrol is a natural phenol and a phytoalexin. Phytoalexins are produced in plants which act as toxins to attacking organisms such as bacteria or fungi.

Studies have shown that resveratrol helps prevent damage to blood vessels to the human body, reduces bad cholesterol and prevents blood clots. Red wine is rich in resveratrol.

Based on animal research, the compound also help protect or reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes, both of which are strong risk factors for heart disease. Also, resveratrol could be linked to a reduced risk of inflammation and blood clotting, both of which can lead to heart disease.

More evidence for longevity pathway

New research reinforces the claim that resveratrol, a compound found in plants and food groups (notably red wine) prolongs lifespan and health-span by boosting the activity of mitochondria, the cell's energy supplier.

"The results were surprisingly clear," said David Sinclair, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and the study's senior author. "Without the mitochondria-boosting gene SIRT1, resveratrol does not work."

The findings are published in the journal Cell Metabolism.