Resveratrol Increases Metabolism in Primates
A study published by BMC Physiology on June 2010 shows that Resveratrol supplements caused reduced weight gain in non-human primates (grey mouse lemurs), during their seasonal fattening period. The study was conducted by scientists from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and the University of Strasburg in France. Resveratrol is an organic polyphenol commonly found in red wine and red grapes, and has been proven to prevent diabetes in rodents by enhancing their energy metabolism. In this latest study, however, the effects of Resveratrol on metabolism have been tested for the first time on non-human primates.
Resveratrol Dosage and Metabolic Effect
Six Lemurs were supplied with a resveratrol dosage by the researchers (200mg per day). This dosage is equivalent to the amount of resveratrol found in several bottles of red wine. This supplementation lasted throughout their winter body-mass gain period of four weeks. While the study was being conducted, the lemurs’ metabolic rate while they were at rest increased by 29%, and they consumed 13% fewer calories. The combined effect caused them to have less seasonal body-mass gain.
The study concludes that Resveratrol suppresses body mass gain in primates by increasing their metabolism and causing a reduced intake of calories.
Buccal Delivery for Improved Resveratrol Absorption
Studies show that intraoral resveratrol absorption through the buccal mucose (mouth tissue) produces the highest availability of unchanged resveratrol in plasma. When resveratrol is absorbed through the mouth tissues, without swallowing, the levels of unchanged resveratrol in blood plasma are up to 250 times higher than with an uncoated resveratrol pill.
Resveratrol Extends Life Span in Animals
In 2008, Jason G. Wood, Siva Lavu, and David Sinclair of the Department of Pathology at Harvard Medical School in Boston; Blanka Rogina and Stephen L. Helfand of the Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington; Konrad Howitz of Biomol Research Laboratories in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania; and Marc Tatar of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island conducted a study on Sirtuin activating compounds and their life extending properties on animals due to their replication of the properties of caloric restriction.
Particulars of the Study
Caloric restriction extends lifespan in numerous species. Sirtuin activating compounds (STACs) can promote the survival of human cells and extend the lifespan of yeast. Because resveratrol can significantly extend lifespan in yeast the study analyzed whether it could also extend lifespan in other animals like worms and flies.
Key Findings for Life Extention
The study demonstrated that red wine resveratrol and other Sirtuin activating compounds activate sirtuins from a species of worm (Caenorhabditis elegans) and a species of fly (Drosophila melanogaster)and extend the lifespan of these animals without reducing their ability to reproduce.