Resveratrol For Weight Loss

As the baby boomers have begun to age, there has been an increased interest in anti-aging products. Resveratrol is one of those receiving considerable attention. Research done on mice and laboratory rats has shown its protective effect on obesity and diabetes, and with its anticancer, anti-inflammatory and blood-sugar-lowering effects, some think of resveratrol as a wonder-supplement. The hope is that these benefits will someday be proved to extend to humans.

What is Resveratrol?

Resveratrol is a phytonutrient called a polyphenol. It is found in wine, the skins of grapes, grape juice, berries and peanuts. It can also be purchased as a supplement. Preliminary data from BioMarker Pharmaceuticals, a pioneer in the field of resveratrol research, suggests that resveratrol's benefits may overlap with those of caloric restriction, which has been shown to increase lifespan.

Resveratrol's Effects

Resveratrol has primarily been studied as an anti-aging supplement. In addition to cardiovascular health, researchers are exploring the effects of resveratrol on cancer, arthritis, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. According to Life Extension, resveratrol may play a role in inhibiting platelets from clumping together, reducing the risk of blood clots, which can cause heart attack and stroke. In laboratory studies, resveratrol has inhibited the growth of numerous cancers, including melanoma, leukemias, multiple myeloma, and cancers of the breast, ovaries, prostate, stomach, colon, liver, pancreas, thyroid, uterine cervix, head and neck. The compound has protected cartilage against inflammatory changes related to experimentally induced inflammatory arthritis. Reservatrol's antioxidant properties have been shown to protect against nerve cell damage by the beta-amyloid peptide, prominent in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. It may offer benefits associated with high blood sugar and metabolic syndrome.

Studies on Weight Loss

The National Institute of Aging conducted a study on overweight aging male mice whose high calorie fat diet was supplemented by resveratrol in 2006. These mice had better health and survival than aging overweight mice who did not receive it. In health-related findings, the untreated mice had livers twice the size and weight of those taking resveratrol.

A 2010 study in "BMC Physiology" was the first to examine the effects of a four-week resveratrol supplementation on energy metabolism and spontaneous food intake in a non-human primate, the grey mouse lemur. Resveratrol reduced the seasonal body-mass gain by concomitantly decreasing energy intake by 13 percent and increasing resting metabolic rate by 29 percent. Resveratrol inhibited the depth of daily lethargy, an important energy-saving process in this animal.

The 'French Paradox'

Scientists have often puzzled over the "French Paradox," a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease despite the French's indulgence in rich sauces, gourmet cheeses and fine wines. It has caused speculation as to what diet or lifestyle factors could account for this. Studies suggests that resveratrol in red wine may help to protect the French from ill health effects of their rich diet as well as protect the liver against the toxic effects of alcohol.

The Future

Although most of the research on resveratrol has been done on animals and not humans, perhaps there is a glimmer of hope somewhere down the line. The Mayo Clinic warns that in order for a person to get the same dose of resveratrol used in the mice studies, he would have to consume 100 to 1,000 bottles of red wine a day. The Mayo Clinic says more research is needed before it can endorse resveratrol supplements.