| One of the most interesting findings of the | | | | and better motor function compared with the |
| researchers regarding the qualities of red | | | | mice on the same diet but without the |
| wine is the benefits of resveratrol, a | | | | supplement. They also discovered the chemical |
| compound found largely in the skins of red | | | | was improving the mice's life-span. The |
| grapes. It came to scientific attention only | | | | scientists estimated resveratrol reduced the |
| four years ago, however, as a possible | | | | risk of death in the mice by about 31%, a |
| explanation for the "French Paradox" -- the | | | | point similar to the lifespan for the |
| low incidence of heart disease among the | | | | standard diet mice. The exact mechanism of |
| French people, who eat a relatively high-fat | | | | the chemical is not yet known, but the |
| diet. Today, it is touted by manufacturers | | | | researchers believe it may be activating a |
| and being examined by scientific researchers | | | | gene called SIRT1, which is linked to a |
| as an antioxidant, an anti-cancer agent, and | | | | family of proteins thought to be involved |
| a phytoestrogen. | | | | with longevity. |
| | | | |
| The resveratrol content of wine is related to | | | | David Sinclair, associate professor of |
| the length of time the grape skins are | | | | pathology at Harvard Medical School, who also |
| present during the fermentation process. Thus | | | | participated at the study said: "The |
| the concentration is significantly higher in | | | | 'healthspan' benefits we saw in the obese |
| red wine than in white wine, because the | | | | mice treated with resveratrol are positive |
| skins are removed earlier during white-wine | | | | clinical indicators and may mean we can stave |
| production, lessening the amount that is | | | | of in humans age-related diseases such as |
| extracted. | | | | type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer, |
| | | | but only time and more research will tell." |
| A last study on resveratrol done by the | | | | |
| National Institute on Aging at Harvard | | | | The reactions of the scientific world to this |
| Medical School reveals that its findings | | | | study are positive. Professor Peter |
| could, in the future, help obese humans. | | | | Rabinovitch, from the University of |
| | | | Washington, suggested that "the next step for |
| To investigate the effects of the molecule on | | | | the researchers should be to investigate the |
| mammals, Dr Rafael de Cabo who conducted the | | | | effects of the chemical in humans." Professor |
| looked at middle-aged mice fed on a | | | | Steve Bloom, head of an obesity research |
| high-calorie diet, with 60 per cent of the | | | | group at Imperial College, London, UK, said: |
| calories coming from fat. These mice shared | | | | "If we start with the idea that there is an |
| many of the problems of humans on an | | | | evolutionary advantage for the life |
| equivalent diet, including obesity, insulin | | | | expectation of each species, and this is tied |
| resistance and heart disease. The interesting | | | | into scarcity or abundance of food. This |
| finding was that the mice that consumed | | | | paper is extremely interesting - it could be |
| resveratrol alongside their food did not lose | | | | the breakthrough of the year, with massive |
| weight but they did show decreased glucose | | | | possibilities for treating human beings. |
| levels, healthier hearts and liver tissue, | | | | |