Supplements claiming to help people stay young and healthy as long as possible has browsers scouring the internet day after day for the latest research, sifting out what’s believable and what’s not: and for good reason. Studies show that in the next two decades the number of Americans 65 years of age and up will grow from 35 million to 71 million. It's no surprise that scientists, researchers, and even those 30-somethings noticing their first wrinkle are searching for an intervention. And in the form of a measly grape-skin, that intervention has finally arrived.
Dr. Joseph Maroon, a neurosurgeon who doubles as a triathlete, father, and author, is a fairly well-known contributor to age-related and epidemiological research. As the team neurosurgeon for the NFL Pittsburg Steelers, he began studying nutritional factors that would improve health and prevent disease. In so doing, he became fascinated with the now widely renowned molecule resveratrol and its ability to activate what is called the SIRT1 longevity gene.
SIRT1 and Longevity
Found in red grapes and the vines on which they grow, resveratrol has been most often associated with activating the longevity gene, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). According to research done by Mitchell Knutson and Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, professors in food science and the biology of aging at the University of Florida, SIRT1 increases energy efficiency of cells in the body. The SIRT1 gene needs to be continually reactivated over to increase cellular energy, which means continued ingestion of resveratrol is necessary to continue seeing the benefits.
Obesity and Resveratrol
The goal of Dr. Maroon’s research was not only to find a way to live longer, but healthier as well. Studies done by Joseph A. Baur of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine show that mice fed a high fat diet, who were more likely to develop diabetes and a decreased lifespan, lived longer with 22.4mg of resveratrol a day. To get an idea of how feasible this dose is in humans, it takes 20mg of resveratrol to activate the SIRT1 gene, and there’s only .25mg in an average glass of wine. The result of the study found that though the mice became increasingly obese on their high fat diet, the ones on resveratrol lived longer and healthier overall.
Alzheimer’s and Resveratrol
In addition, resveratrol also has therapeutic potential in Alzheimer’s disease, an age-related, neurodegenerative disorder that distorts memory. Alzheimer’s disease comes from intracellular degradation in the brain. The most common cause of Alzheimer’s is the build up of a protein fragment between nerve cells called beta-amyloid (Aβ).
What the Litwin-Zucker research Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease found was that resveratrol markedly lowered the levels of secretion of the amyloid-β peptide. It doesn’t completely put a stop to its production, but degrades the intracellular structure of Aβ by way of the proteasome, a destroyer of unneeded proteins. In short, resveratrol lowers the level of amyloid peptide build up within cells, which has the potential to significantly decrease the onset of Alzheimer’s.
With over 250 scientific papers published along with eight books, Dr. Joseph Maroon currently backs the resveratrol supplement Resvitale. His most recent book, entitled The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine can Activate Genes for a Longerand Healthier Life explores in greater depth the effect supplements have on our genes, and how we can better prepare our bodies to prevent the ravages of old age.
Exploding onto the market back in 2006, resveratrol supplements show no signs of stopping. Given the ongoing research at the University of Florida, as well as at the American Heart Association, we can only hope to gain better counsel on how to refine our anti-aging modus operandis, and greater discoveries in the way of longevity research.
References:
Knutson, D. Michael, Leeuwenburgh, Christiaan. "Resveratrol and novel potent activators of SIRT1: Effects on Aging and Age-related Diseases". Nutrition Reviews Vol. 66(10):591-596. Print.
Marambaud, Philippe, Zhao Haitian, Davies, Peter. "Resveratrol Promotes Clearance of Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid-β Peptides". Journal of Biological Chemistry Vol 280(45): 37377-82. Print.
Monique Muro - Monique Muro earned a bachelor's degree in English with a creative writing emphasis from Cal State Long Beach. Devouring books like tiny ...
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