This Nutrient has Anti-Aging Power

“Heart Health” Nutrient Does Much More

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant. It’s found in wine, peanuts and a few other plants. You may have heard a lot about resveratrol and heart health. But studies show it may have many other benefits.

When it comes to heart health, resveratrol is hard to beat. For example, a team at Canada’s Research Center on Aging looked at resveratrol and cholesterol.

Cholesterol itself isn’t bad. In fact, you can’t survive without it. But when it’s oxidized, cholesterol can stick to your artery walls and eventually cause life-threatening blockages.

The Canadian team discovered that resveratrol works two ways. First, it supports lower levels of dangerous oxidized cholesterol. And it also encourages the “flushing out” of excess cholesterol.1

Both of these actions discourage the build-up of deposits on artery walls… and help keep your blood flowing freely.
But resveratrol may do much more for your health. I took a closer look at some of the studies published so far in 2012. And they all seem to point to one conclusion… Resveratrol may be a powerful ally in fighting the overall effects of age.

Here are a few examples:
• Doctors at China’s Tongji Medical College tested resveratrol on animals. They found it promotes a reversal of age’s effects on the cells of blood vessels.2
• Another study reports resveratrol may support kidney health. Scientists treated kidney tissues with resveratrol. When they did, the tissues suffered less damage from excess glucose. That’s the same sugar found in human blood.3
• A review from the journal Nitric Oxide brings more good news. Researchers in Germany found resveratrol promotes healthy blood vessels, less free radical damage, and less “clumping” of blood cells (which can lead to clotting).4
• Another test-tube study links resveratrol to better lung health. Scientists found resveratrol supports removal of unhealthy cells from healthy lung tissue.5
• In Brazil, a group at the Catholic University uncovered more potential good news. In animal their studies, resveratrol promoted less plaque build-up in arteries. Even in animals fed a high-cholesterol diet.6

“That’s nice,” you may be thinking. “But what about studies using people?” Well, here’s one from the University of Pecs in Hungary…

Researchers there gave some heart patients resveratrol, while others got a look-alike pill. After 3 months, the resveratrol group showed improvements in heart function, artery health and cholesterol levels. The placebo group didn’t.7

And these are just a handful of the most recent findings on resveratrol. I’ll continue to keep you informed as the research develops on this important anti-aging nutrient.

Yours in continued good health,
Dr Kenneth Woliner, M.D.
1 Berrougui, H., et al, “A new insight into resveratrol as an atheroprotective compound: inhibition of lipid peroxidation and enhancement of cholesterol efflux,” Atherosclerosis. Dec 2009; 207(2): 420-427.
2 Tang, Y., et al, “Resveratrol reduces vascular cell senescence through attenuation of oxidative stress by SIRT1/NADPH oxidase-dependent mechanisms,” J Nutr Biochem. Jan 25, 2012. [Epub ahead of print]

3 Zhang, L., et al, “High glucose induces renal mesangial cell proliferation and fibronectin expression through JNK/NF-κB/NADPH oxidase/ROS pathway, which is inhibited by resveratrol,” Int J Biochem Cell Biol. Jan 9, 2012. [Epub ahead of print]

4 Li, H., et al, “Cardiovascular effects and molecular targets of resveratrol,” Nitric Oxide. Jan 4, 2012. [Epub ahead of print]

5 Zhang, W., et al, “Resveratrol induces apoptosis via a Bak-mediated intrinsic pathway in human lung adenocarcinoma cells,” Cell Signal. Jan 5, 2012. [Epub ahead of print]

6 Matos, R.S., et al, “Resveratrol causes antiatherogenic effects in an animal model of atherosclerosis,” Arq Bras Cardiol. Jan 9, 2012. pii: S0066-782X2012005000006.
7 Magyar, K., et al, “Cardioprotection by resveratrol: A human clinical trial in patients with stable coronary artery disease,” Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. Jan 3, 2012. [Epub ahead of print]