There is growing evidence that the antidiabetic effects of red wine are related to its polyphenolic compound resveratrol. This biochemical compound is produced by plants to fight off adverse natural and biological conditions like fungus attack, physical wound and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Although resveratrol has the potential for regulating blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, it should be used with caution and under the supervision of a doctor.
Type 2 Diabetes: An Age-Related Disease
According to a 2006 study conducted by investigators at Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Aging, resveratrol administration can increase the life expectancy of obese mice and slow the signs of aging. This research based on "health span" extension in mammals also gave evidence to several physiological changes, such as improved insulin activity and low serum glucose levels. David Sinclair, an HMS associate professor of pathology, and his colleagues indicated that the use of resveratrol might reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Further research work is going on in this area.
Prediabetes
People suffering from type 2 diabetes must go through a prediabetic phase before developing the disease. Prediabetes, also called impaired glucose tolerance or IGT, occurs when your blood sugar goes up and remains higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. In cell culture and animal studies at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, resveratrol has been shown to reduce the blood sugar level among IGT subjects.
Diabetes and Heart Disease
Type 2 diabetes has many severe side effects. It can affect the normal functioning of the heart and increase the risk of heart attack. In clinical research conducted by H. Zhang and colleagues at the University of Missouri, resveratrol has been shown to improve the diastolic relaxation of the left ventricle in type 2 diabetic mice by reducing oxidative and nitrative stress.
Therapeutic Dosages
No one knows the exact therapeutic dose of resveratrol needed to reap its positive health benefits. The concentration of resveratrol in wine bottles can vary from 0.2 to 5.8 mg/l. While a moderate amount of red wine consumption daily might have a protective effect on diabetes, no clinical trials have been done to verify or refute this hypothesis.
References
- Stanford University: Huntington's Outreach Project for Education: A Look at How Resveratrol, A Component of Red Wine, May Be Used to Treat HD
- Harvard Medical School: Small Molecule Increases Lifespan and "Healthspan" of Obese Mice; John Lacey
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine to Study Impact of Resveratrol on Prediabetes; Jill Crandall; December. 7, 2010
- "American Journal of Physiology"; Resveratrol Improves Left Ventricular Diastolic Relaxation In Type 2 Diabetes by Inhibiting Oxidative/Nitrative Stress: In Vivo Demonstration With Magnetic Resonance Imaging. H Zhang et al; October, 2010
