I was looking through Charlie Rose videos on Google Video, which I do from time to time, and found this video.
Part of a “Science Series” that he did, it has many of the researchers involved with anti-aging research talking about the latest discoveries, and what may lie in store for people who want to maintain their health into older years.
Speaking where Lenny Guarente, Jay Olshansky, Richard Weindruch, Cynthia Kenyon, and others.
Featured at the center of the discussion was resveratrol and the effect it has on the Sirtuin gene, and it’s implications for avoiding disease and maintaining health later in life.
Very interesting video.
]]>The site was launched due to concerns about the dearth of quality information available about resveratrol and the emergence of various lines of ‘folk wisdom’ about resveratrol that are not necessarily based in fact.
As the name suggests this is a forum as well, where you can post about your experiences with resveratrol and get answers to questions and concerns, presumably from people who would know, or at least those in contact with them.
One huge plus of the site is an extremely informative ebook titled, Resveratrol Fact Book. This is a great read written in easy to understand language. I highly recommend you download and read this ebook if you are at all interested in resveratrol. It covers just about every question you could have about resveratrol.
The forum community is still in a fledgling stage but showing signs of growth. I believe this is a big step forward for resveratrol being taken more seriously as a health supplement and is a true resource for those considering supplementing their diet with resveratrol.
I highly recommend you go and register for the forum, and at the very least download the Resveratrol Fact Book. It will be well worth your time.
Andrew
]]>Included as examples of the purveyors of immortality are Christoph Westphal, CEO of Sirtris Parmaceuticals quoting that resveratrol “has the chance to change health care”, as well as the many companies selling resveratrol supplements today.
Further, the author cites a list of other supplements that have been promoted for anti-aging (DHEA; Human Growth Hormone, Acai, Resveratrol, even Calorie Retsriction) pointing out that they all had their day in the sun garnering a lot of attention, but now that the spotlight has faded, so the author’s logic goes, they must each be failures.
The basis for all of this skepticism about anti-aging, and resveratrol in particular, is an article in NewScientist that quotes two studies that cast doubt on the effectiveness of resveratrol’s ability to activate the SIRT1 gene and produce the Sirt1 protein (that plays such an active role in reversing the negative effects of the diseases commonly associated with aging).
The article in NewScientist is interesting because it is very carefully written, it doesn’t actually say anything about whether resveratrol triggers production of the Sirt1 protein. Nor does it mention the reams of research, done mainly at universities around the world, that confirms resveratrol to activate SIRT1.
What the article does reveal, and what it is really about, is the two studies (that claim resveratrol doesn’t activate SIRT1) where commissioned, one apiece, by Amgen and by Pfizer, competitors of GlaxoSmithKline (that now owns Sirtris Pharmaceticals, the company at the forefront of resveratrol research). So whatever the studies reveal about resveratrol, positive or negative, what’s actually going on here is two billion-dollar multi-national drug companies have entered the ring in the upcoming Fight For Resveratrol.
In one corner we have GSK represented by microbiologist prodigy David Sinclair with his high energy former VC, Sirtris CEO Christoph Westphal, and in the other corner we have Amgen and Pfizer represented by, we’re not sure who yet.
If this is indeed the opening round it looks like Amgen and Pfizer are happy to go negative, using ‘researchers’ as their ground troops (I know, I’m mixing metaphors). And it looks like NewScientist could be their mouthpiece. Maybe that’s not true, but it would be better if the reporting they did was a little more factual and not focused so much on quirky innuendo.
So … resveratrol is just a fad, an anti-aging “failure”, huh? Well for something that is “fizzling”, it seems a little odd that two billion-dollar drug companies deem it necessary to engage in a turf war over it. No?
If resveratrol were simply nothing, then Amgen and Pfizer would happily let GlaxoSmithKline run down this blind alley all by themselves. Wouldn’t they?
These two recent studies do say something about resveratrol … that it has a very, very bright future.
]]>With all that going for it, most people wonder where they can get their hands on resveratrol. In order to realize the maximum benefits of the compound, studies suggest that about 5 mg per kg of body weight need to be taken daily. Let’s take a look at where you can find resveratrol, and the best source of resveratrol for people who want to embark on a health plan for it.
Don’t try to get resveratrol naturally
The upshot of all this is that it is virtually impossible to get the recommended daily dosage of resveratrol for the health benefits strictly through diet. If we take out the controversial muscadine grape findings, the highest concentration of resveratrol is found in red wines. Even in the best bottles (from the point of view of the resveratrol connoisseur) there will only be 13 mg in one litre of wine. That means the average 150lb person would have to drink 340 litres of wine a day! Obviously, not a task which could be accomplished (and even if it could, there would be detrimental effects which would outweigh the benefits of resveratrol).
The best way to get the daily dose of resveratrol needed, then, is through an extract. As awareness of this compound continues to grow, more supplements will become available and available to more people.
]]>Low doses may be just as effective
Now your first instinct with resveratrol might be to take as much as possible in order to realize the full health benefits. However, as with any medicinal type material, there are downfalls to this approach which will explore in greater detail below.
With resveratrol, the fact is that in some cases, lower doses may be all that is needed in order to bring about many of the positive health effects the compound has been touted for.
The reason for this is resveratrol’s ability to interact with other materials we pick up within our natural diets. In effect, it acts as a “booster” for ingested items such as ellagic acid, vitamin E, ethanol, catechin and other components of our diet which fight a wide variety of problems, from leukemia to the clumping of fat cells. If you have studied some of the benefits of resveratrol already, this should come as no surprise as the compound is quite often found to boost the effectiveness of many of the beneficial operations within our bodies.
The downside
It is worth mentioning, quickly, that resveratrol is believed to be toxic in high amounts. How high? Well, studies show that the ceiling is just under 1 gram per kilogram of body weight. Therefore, it’s important to avoid the conclusion that taking extra resveratrol will help you live longer, fight diseases more efficiently, and so on.
The right dosage
That said, there are also experiments which prove that resveratrol can be taken in doses as high as 300mg per kg of body weight with no ill effects, and several leading scientists in the matter of resveratrol take almost double that amount.
Still, the costs of the dosage should always be measured against the gain. Because of the booster effects of resveratrol, taking it in conjunction with other healthy supplements means that it is likely to be effective on a dosage at the lower end of the scale. How low? Well, it appears as though a dose of just 5mg per kg of body weight per day is enough to realize the health benefits resveratrol offers. And that’s a perfect amount in terms of cost as well.
]]>While resveratrol has been on the supplement scene for almost half a decade now, it is only beginning to make a real impact on the public psyche. Thanks to coverage in well respected shows such as 60 Minutes, the sales of resveratrol have increased 100%, to over $30 million spent a year. Sales are expected to double that again this year, but with a general dearth of information still available to the public, one might well ask “is resveratrol safe?”
Supplement vs. Medicine
To start out answering this question, let’s look at how resveratrol is actually classified. Currently, in the countries where it is sold, the compound is considered a supplement, rather than a medicine. That means it has been cleared as safe in the short term, but the rigorous tests needed to actually classify it as a medicine have not yet been completed.
Resveratrol has caught on faster than the experiments can keep up precisely because of its potency and the remarkable effects it has demonstrated so far. Clinical tests move at a literal snail’s pace. That’s not always a bad thing, but when tests on resveratrol have proven to increase the life spans of subjects, it can be hard for people to stay away and wait another decade for the next slew of tests to be done.
Popularity may be Proof in Itself
The sheer number of people who have been taking resveratrol for some time now may be proof enough against any harmful effects of this compound. As noted earlier, purchases of the extract have increased exponentially over the last five years, without any harmful effects claimed by anyone.
We’re not just talking the average Jane taking resveratrol either. Many might take the fact that the lead scientists in resveratrol studies (such as Dr. David Sinclair of Harvard University) have been taking the supplement themselves for years. Not only that, Sinclair has stated that he his parents and most of his research team also take daily doses of the compound.
Ongoing Tests
In summary, it is important to note that clinical tests on resveratrol’s possible long term effects are still being conducted. The very nature of those tests, however, suggests that it will be a very long time before actual results allow us to classify resveratrol as a medicine.
In the meantime, evidence does exist proving that the compound is safe and that it poses no long term health risks to humans.
]]>What we like about cynics is that they do their research, or as much as they possibly can. No rushing out to the pharmacy for us in a crazed, fountain of youth in a pill frenzy. Instead, research forms our decisions, and the more facts, the better we feel. If you have done some research on resveratrol, you have likely come across what looks like three different kinds; trans-resveratrol, cis-resveratrol, and plain old resveratrol. What’s with all the different names?
A quick chemistry lesson
Okay, researchers, get ready to concentrate. Unless you have a strong background in biology or chemistry this is could be hard to follow, but we’ll make it as simple as we can.
Some compounds have different chemical forms, and resveratrol is one of these. All forms of resveratrol have the same atomic weight, therefore the same number and kinds of atoms. However, the difference between them is that the atoms are arranged differently. These are known as resveratrol isomers.
Isomers come in two different types, cis and trans. Cis means that the oxygen molecules of the compound are on the same side of the double bonded oxygen molecules (in the case of resveratrol) while trans means the oxygen molecules are across from each other. Resveratrol is a term which applies to both types.
So what?
Whew! Go have a coffee to wake yourself up (but don’t use it to wash down your resveratrol pill, it’s more effective when absorbed!).
Great, now let’s bring it back to the real world to explain what that means to those of us here on earth.
As a general rule, those trans compounds – and this includes trans-resveratrol – are more stable than their cis counterparts. This is due to their straighter shape. The result is that trans-resveratrol is better absorbed into the body, and is known as the “active” version of resveratrol.
And active resveratrol is what works the wonders we have all heard of resveratrol doing. Once in the blood, it begins to prevent health problems, give us more energy, and activate our sirtuin gene. Long and short, it’s the amount of trans-resveratrol you absorb (and that’s contained in the extract) which will make a difference to your health.
]]>Sources of resveratrol
We already know that grape seeds and skins are sources of resveratrol, but several other plants carry this compound as well. It’s a phytoaxelin, which is a chemical some plants release when they are under attack from pathogens.
Other plants which use resveratrol to combat pathogens include mulberry bushes and Japanese knapweed (scientific name Polygonum cuspitadtum). Of these three sources, it is the Japanese knotweed which contains the highest concentrations of our miracle compound. But again, no one wants to eat knotweed root, so how do we get the resveratrol out there?
Extraction
The answer is through extraction. This process takes several steps to complete. First of all, the knotweed roots are chopped up and placed in mechanisms aptly named extractors. They sound a lot more complex than they really are; most are simply a series of beakers and tubes connected by hoses.
Alcohol, usually methanol or ethanol, is also placed in the extractor to provide the actual extraction. The alcohol is dripped over the root, gradually causing the resveratrol itself to seep out and join the alcohol in solution. That means it’s a thick liquid.
Obviously, the product needs to be refined further. This is done through applying high pressure through specialized machines and silicate filters; it’s a lot like squeezing a sponge as hard as you can. Finally, the remaining parts of the solvent are vacuum dried to remove the last traces of alcohol.
The product
What’s left is a powdered version of resveratrol, ideal for turning into pill form. This is done by adding filler ingredients including rice flour. About 50% of this extract is trans-resveratrol, or resveratrol which is in active form.
The pills themselves are best taken orally, though not swallowed. Instead, they should be held in the mouth and allowed to dissolve (afterwards, you may want to cleanse your pallet with a glass of red wine!).
This remains the most effective way for resveratrol to be extracted from plant hosts, although currently research is being done on efficiently separating the compound from grape vines. Many believe that this will lead to processing that is less expensive.
Scientists can also reproduce resveratrol chemically, though in today’s organic world this is not a popular option.
]]>And yet, research has proven that resveratrol can do all of that and more. However, we need to keep in mind that resveratrol is not a miracle from on high, but a substance derived from plants. That means a certain resveratrol dosage needs to be taken each day in order to be effective.
The Findings of Research
Just how much resveratrol is needed in order for the benefits of the drug to be realized? The same researchers who conducted the initial experiments on the effects of the substance on mice have suggested that taking 20 to 40 mg of resveratrol a day will prove effective. This is enough to ward off the harmful effects of aging and weight gain, as well as increase the body’s ability to fight certain diseases.
While that is the recommended daily amount at certain levels, though, it seems as though some leading resveratrol experts feel more might be appropriate. The head of the Harvard study which made the earth shattering discoveries about the benefits of this substance actually takes much more of the substance.
How much more? Well, Dr. David Sinclair is not reluctant to share the fact that he takes up to 500 mg of resveratrol every day, since finding out about its positive effects. Sinclair says that while he understands the cautious approach, he recommends that a good dose of resveratrol be around 5 grams for every kilogram of body weight.
When does resveratrol reach toxic levels?
No matter what type of substance one is talking about, too much taken into the body over a short period of time can prove toxic. This is true of all vitamins and minerals, including Iron, Calcium, and Vitamins A and D.
However, despite this knowledge, people always believe they can amplify the effects of a substance by taking more. While it’s not recommended, it is good to know that not only has the FDA of the United States (one of the most conservative bodies of its kind in the world) labelled resveratrol as non-toxic, the amounts needed in order to realize toxic effects are so high as to be ridiculous. Studies suggest that toxicity becomes a concern only when one gram of reservatrol is taken (daily) for every kilogram of body weight. In other words, the average person weighing 165 pounds would have to ingest 75 grams of resveratrol a day for it to be harmful.
Even if you are tempted to exceed the recommended dosage of 500mg a day, it’s important to know that there are not many benefits to be reaped. Studies show that above the 500 mg suggestion, the benefits of resveratrol level off, with no additional effects realized.
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This shouldn’t be an issue, however despite the impressive pedigree resveratrol is building in research institutions around the world, resveratrol supplement providors seem to want to concoct formulations that contain everything “except” resveratrol.
There are many “free trial” offers available willing to send you a bottle of “resveratrol” to try, but look closely on the Supplement Facts box on the labels of these products. Often you will find a long list of ingredients like chromium, green tea extract, vitamin c, guarana, caffeine (everything you are accustomed to seeing in a weight loss supplement), and then way down the bottom of the list there is resveratrol, making up only a tiny portion of the overall contents. Yet, it is “Resveratrol” emblazoned across the label of the product.
This is extremely puzzling, especially considering the health benefits of resveratrol far exceed any of the other ingredients often found in these faux resveratrol supplements. Let’s face it, resveratrol has been proven to increase glucose metabolism, shed fat, increase energy, protect against heart disease and inflammation, prevent cancer, and inhibit the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. Why on God’s green earth you would want to replace a compound that does all this with ingredients like chromium and caffeine, frankly is beyond me.
When you set out to buy resveratrol, make sure that what are getting is in fact, resveratrol. When you are considering a product, check the Supplement Facts box on the side of the label and make sure that 90% or more of the ingredients are sources of resveratrol, and not other ingredients unrelated to resveratrol. The most concentrated source of resveratrol available today is Polygonum cuspidatum plant extract, and any product containing mainly this ingredient will put you in good stead for making a solid purchase.
Once you have found a suitable product, the other issue to address when buying resveratrol is how much is contained in each daily serving. Many of the heavily promoted faux resveratrol blends have a daily serving of about 100 mg, a few venture as high as 250 mg. Then again, some contain as little as 40 mg. There is some benefit to be obtained from doses as low as these, however they are likely to be so subtle as to be barely even noticed. To receive the real benefits of resveratrol, the things that made you want to buy it in the first place, you should look for products that have a daily serving of 500 mg or more of resveratrol. A product with a Supplement Facts box showing a daily serving containing 500 mg of Polygonum cuspidatum would be a good choice.
You are right to be excited about resveratrol and what it can do for you in your quest to live a long and healthy life. But the hopes you have for that long healthy life will not be fulfilled if you go in for the faux resveratrol formulations, free bottle or not.
When you buy resveratrol, be sure to buy real resveratrol. You won’t regret it.
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