Our second member of Eiro’s Superantioxidant All-Star Team is Resveratrol.  This compound is the “Captain” of our All-Star team and probably accounts for many of the reasons you feel something after drinking Eiro.  Resveratrol is currently being studied and is implicated as having a beneficial role in the following conditions:  cardiovascular disease, anti-inflammatory, diabetes, increase lifespan, phytoestrogen, immunomodulator, cholesterol lowering, and Alzheimer’s.*  Let’s look at how Resveratrol impacts each of these conditions.  In cardiovascular disease,  there is interest in resveratrol for prevention.  Daily use seems to improve heart function especially after a previous heart attack, and if a heart attack were to occur, there seems to be less organ damage if  resveratrol is present.(1)*  As an Anti-Inflammatory, there is evidence to suggest that Resveratrol is a more potent anti-inflammatory angent than NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen or even indomethacin.(2)  Resveratrol’s anti-inflammatory activity is likely due to its ability to inhibit 4 enzymes involved in inflammation:  COX-1, COX-2, hydroperoxidase, and 5-lipoxygenase.(3)  Resveratrol also seems to decrease the activity of inflammatory cytokines.(4)*  In Diabetes, Resveratrol may protect against the oxidative damage caused by high glucose levels and seems to reduce diabetic neuropathic pain.(5,6)*  Regarding how Resveratrol increases lifespan, it far beyond the scope of this blog to explain the complex biochemical reactions that Resveraltrol participates.  We have all heard the saying, “It might not add years to your life, but it will add life to your years.”  Let’s just say that Resveratrol is one phytochemical that can accomplish both.  Resveratrol is a weak phytoestrogen.  It binds to both alpha and beta estrogen receptors.  So why is this important?  As we age, women do not make enough estrogen to keep up with their body’s demand, men make more than they will ever need.  Too little is harmful to the female, too much is extremely harmful to the male.  A phytoestrogen blocks an estrogen receptor.  For women this means that more of her decreasing estrogen supply is available to do its job, and is not just sitting on an estrogen receptor.  In men, Resveratrol blocks receptors that if estrogen occupied it would be harmful.(5)*  It is well documented that Resveratrol is an immune system booster and one of the major reasons Eiro tends to improve immune fuction.(6)*  Resveratrol might have a role in preventing Alzheimer’s disease.*  In vitro, Resveratrol prevents beta-amyloid peptide-related reductions in glutathione.  This suggests that Resveratrol might prevent oxidative damage caused by beta-amyloid peptide.(7)  This is a brief review of the major ways Resveratrol can be of benefit.  There are many other conditions and many minor ways that the captain of our All-Star team can contribute to your health.  It is just one more way that Eiro helps to “Make Yourself Whole.”

* See Disclaimer Page

References:

1.  Mokni M, Limam F, Elkahoui S, et al.  Strong cardioprotective effect of resveratrol on isolated rat hearts after ischemia/reperfusion injury.  Arch Biochem Biophys 2007:457:1-6.

2.  Hwang D, Fischer NH, Jang BC, et al. Inhibition of inducible cyclooxygenase and proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages.  Biochem Biophys Res Cummun 1996:226:810-8.

3.  Murias M, Handler N, Erker T, et al. Resveratrol analogues as selective COX-2 inhibitors.  Bioorg Med Chem 2004:12:5571-8.

4.  Holmes-McNary M, Baldwin AS, Jr.  Chemopreventive properties of trans-resveratrol are associated with inhibition of activation of the IkappaB kinase.  Cancer Res 2000:60:3477-83.

5.  Bowers JL, Tyulmenkov VV, Jernigan SC, Klinge CM.  Resveratrol acts as a mixed agonist/antagonist for estrogen receptors alpha and beta.  Endocrinology 2000:141:3657-67.

6.  Gao X, Deeb D, Media J, et al.  Immunomodulatory activity of resveratrol: discrepant in vitro and in vivo immunological effects.  Biochem Pharmacol 2003:66:2427-35.

7.  Marambaud P, Zhao H, Davies P.  Resveratrol Promotes Clearance of Alzheimer’s Disease.  J Biol Chem:2005:280:45:37377-82.