Resveratrol to Support Healthy Cellular Aging

Caloric restriction is a well known life extender. For decades, research has shown that limiting calories (without malnutrition) can improve stress resistance, increase lifespan and delay functional decline. These effects are believed, at least in part, to be linked to activation of the Sirt1 enzyme. This enzyme is key for controlling the proteins that contribute to cellular repair and aging.

Research has revealed that resveratrol also functions to activate the Sirt1 enzyme and support healthy aging. A recent study involving obese men found that resveratrol promoted many of the same metabolic adaptations as caloric restriction. Results of 30 days of supplementation with 150 mg of resveratrol indicated:

• Increased levels of Sirt1 and other gene regulators activated by caloric restriction
  Improved mitochondrial function and efficiency, including the ability of the mitochondria to utilize fatty acids for energy
• Decreased blood glucose levels
• Improved insulin sensitivity
• Decreased markers of inflammation
• Decreased blood pressure
• Decreased fat stores in the liver and improved liver health functional markers

While these effects have long been demonstrated in mice at very high dosage levels, this is one of the first human study showing these results and at a pretty low dosage!

References

1. Ingram DK, Zhu M, Mamczarz J, et al. Calorie restriction mimetics: an emerging research field. Aging Cell. 2006 Apr;5(2):97-108.
2. Pedersen SB, Ølholm J, Paulsen SK, Bennetzen MF, Richelsen B. Low Sirt1 expression, which is upregulated by fasting, in human adipose tissue from obese women. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008 Aug;32(8):1250-5.
3. Timmers S, Konings E, Bilet L, et al. Calorie restriction-like effects of 30 days of resveratrol supplementation on energy metabolism and metabolic profile in obese humans. Cell Metab. 2011 Nov 2;14(5):612-22.