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