According to Dr. Paul Gross, from BerryDoctor.com, no phytochemical has dominated the research over the past several years like the compound, Resveratrol. In 2008, there were about 500 articles published on this compound; enough to earn the Berry Doctor’s top berry research topic for 2008.   “As of June 2010, there are more than 3,330 research studies and abstracts cataloged on PubMed, the online database for medical research published in journals around the world.” (1)  With such intensive research being conducted on this phytochemical, it is progressing toward  almost “drug status.”  Why the interest and what has changed since the post I made in 2009?

You can review the 2009 post by clicking here.

Still no physiological effect of resveratrol has been completely proven, however there is now enough evidence to warrant clinical trials and scientific research.  When interest in a compound increases 6 fold, there must be, at least, some anecdotal evidence to generate this kind of excitement.  Yes, Eiro is a good source of resveratrol, but whether resveratrol can have a positive impact on your health must be your decision based on the information available.

Below are links to some abstracts regarding the recent trends in basic research of Resveratrol.

• Mechanism of Action
• Anti-Aging
• Anti-Cancer
• Neuroprotection

Also, here are links  to some summaries on Human Clinical Trials of Resveratrol.

• Aging and Memory
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Cognitive function and mental fatigue
• Diabetes

Of course this just scratches the surface of  what  current medical research  has under study for Resveratrol’s potential effect upon.  Other areas of interest include: cardiovascular disease, inflammatory conditions, and various cancers, to name a few.  One thing is certain, resveratrol from a whole foods source, like Eiro, has more biological activity than from an extracted source or a freeze dried fruit.  Drink your Eiro.  Make Yourself Whole.

Reference:

1.  http://www.berrydoctor.com/broadcast/2010/resveratrol.htm

As I have stated many times, many functional beverages, tout their antioxidant strength with incredible “ORAC” values.  They get these high numbers by spiking their products with either extracted nutrients, or freeze dried ingredients, allowing them to “scientifically” prove an exceptionally high ORAC score inside their bottles.

Flavonoids are a family of some 5,000 plant compounds that have a common chemical structure called polyphenols.  Flavonoids have antioxidant activity in test tube experiments because they can effectively scavenge free radicals.  Scientists thought that Flavonoids would do the same inside the body.  So, the more polyphenols you had in your bottle, and the higher your ORAC score, the more free radicals you would scavenge inside the body.  Scientists now know this is not true, and here’s why:  Following ingestion, flavonoids undergo a change in chemical structure due to exposure to stomach acid and enzymes.  Very little whole flavonoid reaches the target organs and an even smaller amount actually gets inside the cell.  The digested parts of the flavonoids (metabolites) have even less antioxidant activity than the parent (whole) compound, and again, very little gets into the cell.  For these reasons the contribution of dietary flavonoids to antioxidant function in the body is very small and physiologically negligible.(2-4) Bummer!

So why consume Eiro?  Let me quote Balz Frei, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Oregon State University.  “Cells can respond to a variety of stresses or signals by increasing or decreasing activity of cell-signaling pathways.  These pathways regulate many processes,  including cell growth, and removal of damaged cells.  Although it was originally assumed that flavonoids exert antioxidant effects in the body, it has become increasingly clear that instead they modulate cell-signaling pathways.(3)

Inside cells, the concentration of flavonoids needed to affect cell-signaling mechanisms is much lower than that needed to affect cellular antioxidant capacity.  The results of many laboratory experiments suggest that flavonoids may selectively inhibit a group of cell-signaling enzymes called kinases, which are important in maintaining normal cell function.”(1)  By selectively inhibiting kinases, flavonoids may lower chronic disease risk.(3)

Do the flavonoids of Eiro modulate cell-signaling pathways?  How do you think we were able to show a statistical significant rise in SOD (super-oxide dismutase) levels.  Forget ORAC!  Modulation of cell-signaling pathways is what is significant inside the cells, and Eiro already has its proof.

References:

1.  Frei, B.  PhD, Director, Linus Pauling Institute, Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.   Controversy:  What are the True Biological Functions of Superfruit Antioxidants?  2009-04-01.

2.  Lotito SB, Frei B. Consumption of flavonoid-rich foods and increased plasma antioxidant capacity in humans:  cause, consequence, or epiphenomenon?  Free Radic Biol Med. 2006;41:1727-1746.

3.  Williams RJ, Spencer JP, Rice-Evans C.  Flavonoids: antioxidants or signaling molecules?  Free Radic Biol Med. 2004;36:838-849.

4.  Frei B, Higdon JV.  Antioxidant activity or tea polyphenols in vivo: evidence from animal studies.  J Nutr. 2003;133:3275S-32845S.

Many times I get asked, “What’s the ORAC score of a 2 oz. serving of Eiro?”  I love this question, because its like asking someone what their cholesterol level is.  Unless you know how much is the good kind of cholesterol (HDL), how much is the bad kind (LDL) and what the particle size of each is, the number is meaningless and irrelevant.  The same is true with an ORAC number.  Yes, its a good starting point for determining the antioxidant strength of a fruit, vegetable, or nutriceutical, but that’s all it is, a starting point.  The real question should be, what is the antioxidant strength of Eiro, inside the body, not inside the bottle.

Many companies inflate their ORAC score by adding freeze dried ingredients, or extracted nutrients.  Although this technique works well for getting a high score inside their bottle, there is no scientific proof that this translates to antioxidant strength inside the body.  Eiro, on the other hand, is a whole food, completely natural product, so their “inside the bottle” ORAC score will change from batch to batch.

So, what is the ORAC score of Eiro?  It is 1500 to 2200 units per 2 oz. serving.  The variation is again, because it is a natural whole food product, but like the cholesterol number is this the relevant number?  What is the ORAC score of Eiro inside the body, 1 hour after consumption, when SOD levels go out the roof?  This is the relevant ORAC score and we don’t know exactly how high the number goes. Why, because SOD turns on or turns off the oxidation of free radicals when the body expresses a need.  So, is it 10,000, or 100,000 or maybe 1 million?  Its whatever your body needs it to be throughout the day, as long as you keep SOD levels up.  How do you keep SOD levels up?  Never miss a dose of Eiro, that’s how.