THURSDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- A key compound in red wine
known as resveratrol appears to protect against many of the health
ravages associated with growing old, new animal research
reveals.
"It's very hard to extrapolate from this finding to comment on
the benefits of red wine directly, because red wine has many other
compounds besides resveratrol, including ethanol, which have very
active biological effects," noted study author Rafael de Cabo, unit
chief of the laboratory of experimental gerontology at the National
Institute on Aging in Baltimore.
"But red wine is a good source of resveratrol," he added. "And,
in this mouse study, we have shown that this particular compound
has very strong positive effects on preventing cardiovascular
disease, reducing heart inflammation, keeping bone health in terms
of structure and function, and maintaining loco-motor and balance
activity. So, if these effects translate into humans, it will have
a very good impact on the standard of human health."
De Cabo conducted the research with David A. Sinclair, of
Harvard Medical School. Their team is publishing its findings in
the July 3 online issue of
Cell Metabolism.
Daily consumption of the compound -- also found in the skin of
grapes and the crust of peanuts and walnuts -- broadly improved the
long-term quality of life of middle-aged mice, although most mice
did not end up living longer.
Nevertheless, the age-defying health benefits of resveratrol
closely mimicked those previously associated with rigorous
calorie-restricted diets -- raising hopes for simpler and easier
means by which to help fight off age-related decline.
The authors noted that prior research has touted the healthy
benefits associated with daily caloric restriction of between 30
percent and 50 percent below average, as well as with fasting every
other day. Such diets have been linked to a reduction in the risk
for age-associated disease and stress, alongside a slowing of
age-related functional decline.
"But we can't have half of America going permanently on a diet,"
said de Cabo. "We just can't do it. It's not practical, and it's
not going to happen."
Alternatively, he and his colleagues began to explore the
potential of resveratrol -- a compound that has already been shown
to extend the lives of yeast, worms, flies and fish.
In initial studies, the team found that consuming the compound
did improve the health and survival of obese mice -- despite
consuming a high-calorie diet.
To follow up, the researchers now compared the health and life
spans of middle-age mice given either a standard diet or a
calorie-restricted diet, with or without high or low daily dosages
of resveratrol.
De Cabo and his colleagues found that resveratrol had the same
positive impact on mouse livers, muscles, hearts and bones as
calorie restriction alone.
Regardless of dietary protocol, the general health and vigor of
mice on a long-term regimen (approximately one year) of resveratrol
improved overall, without apparent side effects. However, only mice
consuming resveratrol alongside a high-calorie diet were found to
actually live longer.
"This certainly is consistent with previous studies," noted Dr.
Edward A. Fisher, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and cell
biology at the New York University School of Medicine in New York
City. "So, I'm not surprised by the finding."
"But by looking at specific outcomes in specific tissues, this
work is certainly more detailed and rigorous," he added. "And it
further supports the hypothesis that this compound staves off the
effects of aging."
On another food front, researchers out of Athens Medical School
in Greece have published a new study in the current issue of the
European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and
Rehabilitation suggesting that drinking green tea is good for
the heart.
Consuming green tea, the authors noted, appeared to quickly
improve the function of cells that line the circulatory system,
known as endothelial cells. Because endothelial cell damage is a
key contributor to the onset of atherosclerosis, boosting the
performance of such cells could help stave off heart disease.
More information
For additional information on health benefits associated with
red wine and resveratrol, visit the
Mayo Clinic.
