Resveratrol is a natural compound found in red wine. It is produced in certain plants to protect them from stress, damage, infection and ultraviolet radiation. Studies at Huntington's Outreach Project for Education at Stanford University suggest that supplements containing large doses of resveratrol can help protect humans by warding off cell damage such as that caused by diabetes. Scientists continue to search for evidence to validate these promising initial results. Nevertheless, you should not take resveratrol supplements without first talking to your doctor.
Resveratrol and Insulin Sensitivity
Investigators from the Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Aging showed that incorporating resveratrol into the diet of obese mice helps lower blood glucose and improve insulin sensitivity. Insulin is a metabolic hormone that facilitates the entry of glucose into the cells to be used for energy. Type 2 diabetics have insulin resistance, meaning their cells do not fully respond to insulin. This raises blood glucose and over time damages blood vessels and can lead to brain, nerve, heart and kidney disease.
Diastolic Dysfunction
People with type 2 diabetes frequently have diastolic dysfunction. It is an early sign of cardiac damage from diabetes. The heart's walls become stiff, allowing less blood to fill its chambers. In diabetes, diastolic dysfunction is most likely caused by damage to blood vessels in the circulatory system. Diabetic rats treated with resveratrol were observed to have better left ventricular relaxation and filling, according to a study published in the May 2009 issue of the "American Journal of Cardiology," conducted by Aaron M. From and colleagues. Resveratrol's anti-diabetic effects are thought to be caused by increasing levels of nitric oxide in the blood. Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to open wider for improved blood flow.
Impaired Glucose Tolerance
Scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to determine the effect of resveratrol on blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes. Prediabetes, also called impaired glucose tolerance or IGT, is a condition wherein an individual's blood sugar is higher than normal but below that of a diabetic. It can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Prediabetes, if left untreated, can progress into full-blown type 2 diabetes. Scientists are optimistic that resveratrol's promising results in animals will also be observed in humans.
Dosage and Safety
There are not enough clinical studies to determine the optimal dose of resveratrol. However, in studies of animals, a daily dose of 500 mg seems reasonable. Resveratrol is considered a phytoestrogen that can mimic the action of the natural female hormone estrogen. Since there is an association between exposure to estrogen and breast cancer, women who are susceptible to this disease should not consume resveratrol supplements, according New York University Langone Medical Center.
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; D. McGee and P. Bakhai
- Harvard Medical School: Small Molecule Increases Lifespan and "Healthspan" of Obese Mice; John Lacey; November 1, 2006
- "American Journal of Cardiology"; Changes in Diastolic Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus Over Time; Aaron M. From et al; April 03, 2009
- "American Journal of Physiology"; Resveratrol Improves Left Ventricular Diastolic Relaxation In Type 2 Diabetes.......; H Zhang et al; October, 2010
- Yeshiva University: Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Albert Einstein College of Medicine to Study Impact of Resveratrol on Prediabetes; Jill Crandall; December 7, 2010
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Resveratrol
