Cardiologist Praises Latest Resveratrol/Red Wine Research

New Study Finds Low Dose Delivers Anti-Aging Heart, Skeletal Muscle and Brain Health Benefits at Genetic Level

BOCA RATON, Fla., June 24 /PRNewswire/ — William S. Gruss, M.D., board-certified cardiologist and author of the best-selling book on resveratrol, A CARDIOLOGIST’S GUIDE TO ANTI-AGING, ANTIOXIDANTS & RESVERATROL, praises the latest research on resveratrol by a team of scientists in Madison, Wisconsin, published June 2008 [PLoS1, available online http://www.plosone.org/home.action ].

This newest study on resveratrol shows that low-dose resveratrol inhibited genes that cause age-related health problems, prolonging life-span. (Previous studies showed high doses were shown to stimulate the SIRT1 gene, which plays a role in extending life span.) Low-dose resveratrol consumption does not seem to activate the SIRT1 gene.

“This supports human studies showing that red wine or red wine supplements containing resveratrol are especially beneficial for heart health,” says Dr. Gruss. “It’s a very exciting study. It identifies the role of resveratrol in supporting heart health at the genetic level.”

Resveratrol is a non-flavonoid polyphenol commonly found in red wine. The French Paradox, the phenomenon of dramatically lower rates of death due to heart disease in France compared to the U.S., has stimulated massive research into compounds of red wine. Many of the well-known heart benefits of red wine have been attributed to resveratrol.

“Resveratrol has emerged as one of the most fascinating and compelling nutritional components in modern scientific research,” says Dr. Gruss.

Resveratrol has been the focus of ground-breaking anti-aging research by scientists at Harvard University (Baur, 2006) and in France (Lagouge, 2006). These and previous studies established resveratrol as the only known compound to extend life-span of vertebrate (mouse, fish) and invertebrate (yeast, roundworms, fruit flies) life forms.

Resveratrol Inhibits Aging Genes

Prior to the resveratrol research, the only known method to extend life-span was a near-starvation diet. Caloric restriction (CR) has been found to retard aging and physiological decline. CR is so restrictive that it is not practical for humans as a way of prolonging life-span.

In the study, researchers fed one group of mice a control diet, one group a calorie restricted diet, and one a low dose of resveratrol (equivalent to about 350mg a day for humans). They found “a striking transcriptional overlap of CR and resveratrol in heart, skeletal muscle and brain.”

“The genetic profile in brain, heart and skeletal muscle tissue of the mice on CR and resveratrol were nearly identical as they aged. They were far healthier than the control mice,” explains Dr. Gruss.

Genetic and Functional Prevention of Cardiac Aging by Resveratrol and CR

Heart disease is the number one killer of Americans. According to the study, cardiac function declines with age in both mice and humans.

“The most exciting conclusion from this study is that CR and resveratrol almost completely prevented the age-related decrease in an important parameter of heart health-the myocardial performance index, an overall assessment of cardiac function,” says Dr. Gruss. “Researchers concluded that resveratrol prevented cardiac aging at both the genetic and functional levels.”

Comparing young and old mice fed the control diet, there were 1,029 genes that changed as the mice got older. CR opposed the changes in 921 (90%) of the age-related genes, with 536 of the genes making a significant difference. Resveratrol opposed 947 (92%) of age-related changes as the mice got older, with 522 of the genes representing highly significant differences between the old control and old resveratrol groups.

Changes in genes are considered one of the major biomarkers of aging. Supplementing with resveratrol at low doses is a “likely robust intervention in the retardation of cardiac aging,” according to the study’s authors.

Genetic Prevention of Brain and Skeletal Muscle Aging by Resveratrol and CR

CR and resveratrol also opposed genetic aging of brain and skeletal muscle, though to a lesser extent than heart aging. Aging resulted in the change of 515 skeletal muscle genes; 26% were opposed by CR and resveratrol. In the brain (neocortex), CR and resveratrol inhibited 19 and 13%, respectively, of the 505 highly significant age-related changes.

Mechanisms of Action of Low-Dose Resveratrol

Low-dose resveratrol appears to enhance health by different pathways than high-dose resveratrol. Low-dose resveratrol did not enhance health by altering the well-known factors postulated to impact aging: IGF-1, insulin, SIRT1, oxidative stress.

The mechanism of action of low-dose resveratrol appears to be at the genetic chromosome (chromatin) level. Other mechanisms of action of low-dose resveratrol may be through stimulation of AMP kinase and nitric oxide synthase activity.

Resveratrol and Dietary Supplements for Anti-Aging

“This study confirms that dietary resveratrol can improve genetic performance in old age of vitally important organs. It’s a tremendous breakthrough! You can improve your genetic performance as you get older by starving yourself, or you can take a glass of red wine or a resveratrol supplement,” concludes Dr. Gruss.

In his book, Dr. Gruss recommends dietary supplements to address the four factors of aging: genetic breakdown, oxidation, inflammation, and reduced mitochondrial energy.

“I prefer alpha lipoic acid and oligomeric proanthocyanins (OPCs) from grape skin and seed as antioxidants; acetyl L-carnitine as a mitochondrial energy booster; and quercetin to reduce inflammation. Resveratrol is obviously the first choice for genetic support as you age,” says Dr. Gruss.

All of these ingredients, including resveratrol, are available in the dietary supplement Revatrol(TM) available from Renaissance Health, Boca Raton, Florida. For more, visit www.revatrol.com. Renaissance Health is a leader in science-based anti-aging formulas that contain resveratrol.

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