DOES A CHEMICAL IN RED WINE RED GRAPES SLOW DOWN AGING AND DOES IT WORK LIKE CALORIE RESTRICTION SOME SCIENTISTS THINK SO

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Scientists Examine Resveratrol's Effect on the Genes Might it Slow Aging?

Red wine may be much more potent than was thought in slowing down aging. Instead of "let them eat cake" the French are more likely to "let them drink red wine" resulting perhaps in something called the French Paradox where the French allegedly have better heart health despite a diet that may not be the healthiest. An article in the NY Times talks about the efforts of scientists to determine if a chemical found in red grapes and red wine called resveratrol can lead to slowing down aging and longer life. And if so does resveratrol work like calorie restriction in extending lifespan?


Resveratrol, a natural compound found in grapes and red wine has previously been shown to extend lifespan in some organisms. Calorie restriction while getting adequate nutrition has been shown in mice as well as primates to extend lifespan at least in some studies. That is to say eating fewer calories while getting good nutrition does seem on average to make animals live longer. "Caloric restriction retards several aspects of the aging process in mammals, including age-related mortality, tumorigenesis, physiological decline and the establishment of age-related transcriptional profiles".





Scientists are examining resveratrol, the chemical found in red grapes and red wine to see if the effect is consistent and why and how it works. In a report that appears in the online science journal called PLOS One, they say "Our studies suggest that dietary consumption of a low dose of resveratrol partially mimics calorie restriction, and inhibits some aspects of the aging process". "The study is based on dosing mice with resveratrol, an ingredient of some red wines. Some scientists are already taking resveratrol in capsule form, but others believe it is far too early to take the drug, especially using wine as its source, until there is better data on its safety and effectiveness".



According to the Times article "A critical link in establishing whether or not caloric restriction works the same wonders in people as it does in mice rests on the outcome of two monkey trials. Since rhesus monkeys live for up to 40 years, the trials have taken a long time to show results. Experts said that one of the two trials, being conducted by Dr. Weindruch, was at last showing clear evidence that calorically restricted monkeys were outliving the control animals. But no such effect is apparent in the other trial, being conducted at the National Institutes of Health".

New Hints Seen That Red Wine May Slow Aging

See healty medical Blog Eating Fewer Calories May Lengthen Life

A Low Dose of Dietary Resveratrol Partially Mimics Caloric Restriction and Retards Aging Parameters in Mice