Researchers at the Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Aging have reported that a natural compound found in red wine, and the skin of red grapes ,resveratrol, mitigates the ill effects of a diet laden with calories and may significantly affect the longevity of individuals.
A report, published online , the scientific journal Nature, explains that a daily intake of resveratrol in generous quantity could make up for the detrimental, high-calorie diet often linked to obesity which is rampant globally .This suggestion was made by researchers who conducted tests on ageing mice which were put on a diet high on calories mainly contributed by fat. As a consequence of this diet the mice soon developed enlarged liver and signs of diabetes. Another group of similar ageing mice also on high fat diet were put on a very heavy daily dose of resveratrol .It was noted that though these mice also grew fat and overweight like the control group mice their levels of circulating blood glucose and insulin the hormone which maintains blood sugar levels were relatively normal and therefore helped in keeping their liver size also within normal parameters. . Mice that were fed resveratrol along with the high-fat diet lived longer than the mice on just fat alone.Resveratrol found in the skin of grapes and in red wine and is now pointed out to be the probable secret formula behind the relatively better cardiac health that French who glug gallons of red wine enjoy despite a high-fat diet when compared to Americans.
The researchers David Sinclair and Joseph Baur have commented that on the basis of these findings its safe to assume that it is possible to improve the general health of mammals by using small molecules using novel approaches for treating disorders related to excessive weight gain and ageing.
Critics note that to achieve the effect of resvestrol ,which was given to the mice in heavy doses of 24mgms/kg body weight , an average built person should drink gallons of wine .The amount of alcohol that would go in would mitigate whatever projected benefit that resvestrol claims to establish.
Source-Medindia
MST
