How Resveratrol Can Help Prevent Disease

Reposted from Life Extension

http://blog.lef.org/2012/03/resveratrol-can-prevent-disease.html

By Michael A. Smith, MD

We like resveratrol, especially the early research showing that it favorably expresses anti-aging genes and prevents cancer — at least in mice. But there’s so much more to what my dad calls, the “red wine” supplement. New research highlights several mechanisms of action by which resveratrol can help prevent and even treat disease.

The table below comes from a systematic review of resveratrol research.¹ We added the section on synergistic nutrients that could be taken with resveratrol for added benefit. Although the investigators concluded that more human research is needed, they believe that resveratrol looks promising for preventing cancer, heart disease and even diabetes.

Resveratrol’s Mechanisms of Action
Mechanism of Action	Disease Affected	Synergistic Nutrients
Reduces Oxidative Stress	All age-related diseases	Antioxidants from dark berries Ubiquinol CoQ10
Eases Inflammation	All age-related diseases	Omega-3 Fats Curcumin (turmeric spice) Boswellia serrata extract
Suppresses fat cell formation Stimulates fat cell breakdown	Obesity, heart disease, diabetes	Mangosteen & S. Indicus Fucoxanthin (brown seaweed) Conjugated linoleic acid
Enhances cell energy production Protects mitochondrial decay	Obesity, heart disease, diabetes	Ubiquinol CoQ10 D-ribose PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline quinone)
Promotes healthy cell growth Controls programmed cell death	Cancer	Cruciferous vegetable extract Coriolus mushroom extract
Inhibition of metastasis	Cancer	Curcumin
Controls of angiogenesis (blood vessel formation)	Cancer	Green tea extract (EGCG) Milk thistle (silibinin)
Prevents DNA damage	Cancer	Chlorophyllin
Improves toxin metabolism	Cancer	Modified citrus pectin
Reduce levels of glutamate	Brain and nerve disorders	Blueberry extracts Vinpocetine
Promotes bone formation	Osteoporosis	Dried plum extract Strontium

What You Need to Know

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol antioxidant, has several key mechanisms of action, each of which contributes to the reduction of disease and even premature death. Five of the leading causes of death may be prevented or mitigated by resveratrol supplementation, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. All of this put together, makes resveratrol an important part of every wellness program.

Want to dig even deeper? Check out the entire article, How Resveratrol Combats Leading Causes of Death, from the March issue of Life Extension Magazine^®.

References

1. PLoS One. 2011;6(6):e19881.