February 13, 2012
National Institutes of Health: How Resveratrol Works
Resveratrol, a compound found most famously in red wine, is the subject of a Feb. 13, 2012 news release by the National Institutes of Health. The NIH reports on a new study that identified the precise biochemical mechanism in the body that seems to be responsible for resveratrol’s ability to mitigate the harmful health effects of a high-fat diet.
One of the earliest reasons for scientific interest in resveratrol was the perception that people who drank a lot of red wine could also eat a relatively high fat diet, yet still have a rather low risk of cardiovascular disease. (This was the so-called “French paradox,” much discussed in the US media in the early 1990s.) The current NIH-supported study found evidence that resveratrol affects specific biochemical pathways that block the ill effects of a high-fat diet, such as obesity, glucose intolerance, and, potentially, the development of Type 2 diabetes. (Type 2 diabetes, in turn, is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.)
This NIH-supported study follows a pattern we’ve often seen before: the health benefits of a natural product are noted in general population studies, and eventually laboratory science allows us to home in on the exact mechanisms by which the natural substance works. Needless to say, we’re all for this kind of research to confirm and refine our knowledge of supplements!
Read more about the resveratrol study at:
http://www.nih.gov/researchmatters/february2012/02132012resveratrol.htm
You can find resveratrol in two forms at the NYBC. (Resveratrol Synergy adds some of the additional parts of the grape that are thought to have health benefits, and combines those with green tea extract, another food extract that researchers believe may have health benefits.)
August 18, 2011
Resveratrol and Resveratrol Synergy supplements
We were interested to see in today’s online edition of our hometown newspaper, The New York Times, a news report on the latest research about resveratrol and related compounds:
“Drug Is Found to Extend the Lives of Obese Mice”
The article points to the promise of continuing research on resveratrol derivatives, while also reviewing some of the questions that remain before large-scale human trials of the sort that can lead the breakthroughs in drug development. One of NYBC’s concerns, as always, has been that the real benefits of the non-prescription supplement itself could be ignored in the quest for some patentable super-drug (which would undoubtedly make the pharmaceutical company rich, no doubt!)
So, to review, there have been a number of research developments in just the past couple of years about the basic resveratrol molecule itself–the very same one that you can find in supplements now stocked by NYBC. Here’s an excerpt from our post earlier this year:
For a while it seemed like the excitement about resveratrol–the molecule famously found in red wine–had died down.
A few years ago widely publicized studies showed that resveratrol had potential as a life-extending supplement (it showed that capacity in lab animals). And there was buzz when companies raised hundreds of millions in venture capital to explore the possibilities further. One catch with that high-profile research was that it involved very high doses of resveratrol. (The equivalent of drinking hundreds of bottles of red wine a day!)
However, in just the past couple of years, scientific interest has come back to resveratrol, and this time it is pointing to substantial health benefits without those massive doses.
First, cardiovascular health. In 2009, a Univ. of Wisconsin research team reported that low doses of resveratrol in the diet of middle-aged mice could have many of the same effects as the high dose reseveratrol, especially in terms of protecting heart health. Second, in 2010, Johns Hopkins researchers reported on a mechanism by which resveratrol shielded mice from stroke damage to the brain. A single small dose of the compound increased levels of an enzyme that protects nerve cells in the brain from damage when blood flow is disrupted by stroke.
It’s also just been announced that the scientific research organization of Denmark will run a multi-year study of resveratrol for diabetes. This announcement follows the news from December 2010 that our hometown Albert Einstein Medical Center has been awarded an NIH grant, also for a study of resveratrol and diabetes.
All in all, resveratrol seems to remain a very promising research topic!
You can find resveratrol in two forms at the NYBC. (Resveratrol Synergy adds some of the additional parts of the grape that are thought to have health benefits, and combines those with green tea extract, another food extract that researchers believe may have health benefits.)
March 31, 2011
Supplements for the Brain (and Nerves)
“For Your Peace of Mind…”
Recent research on supplements for memory, cognition and other neurological functions
You may remember (we hope you remember!) the Scarecrow’s petition to the Wizard of Oz for a brain. Be advised–we at NYBC do not stock new brains, so don’t come to us with that request.
However, we do follow the sometimes startling new research on supplements, brain function and related neurological issues. In this department, there’s special cause for concern for people with HIV. According to a Canadian study released in 2010, in a group of 1615 people receiving treatment for HIV during the decade 1998-2008, one fourth had neurological problems, including memory loss, cognitive impairment and peripheral neuropathy. Of course being worried about brain function–and neurological function in general–is not unique to people with HIV. As people age, they are more likely to experience memory loss or forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s. And the nerve condition called peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling in the feet and hands) is found not just in people with HIV, but also among the growing population with Type 2 diabetes.
Now, on to what we see as some of the most valuable recent findings about supplements and brain or neurological function:
B vitamins can be considered a foundation because they are needed in so many processes essential to the brain’s operation, from energy supply and healthy blood flow, to the formation of neurotransmitters (=chemical messengers of neurologic information from one cell to another). Furthermore, there is evidence that several groups of people, including those over 60 and those with HIV, have a greater risk for Vitamin B deficiencies. So supplementing with a B complex vitamin is a sensible start to cognitive health. More specifically, there is good research linking deficiency of vitamins B12 and B6 to mood disorders like depression—and depression earlier in life is associated with higher risk of dementia in later life. Last, there is also some evidence that B vitamins may reduce stroke risk in older people.
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) support cognitive health in a variety of ways. In 2008, UCLA researchers reported on a lab study showing that the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, together with exercise, improved cognitive function. This caught our attention, because there is wide agreement that regular exercise strongly supports brain function as we age, and here the suggestion is that omega-3 fatty acids multiply that known benefit. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids/fish oil has also been linked to lower risk of depression—another plus. And still more: recent research found that omega-3 fatty acids block the development of retinopathy, a chief cause of blindness as we age. (The retina of the eye is actually part of the brain–it is full of nerve cells essential for vision.) All in all, the neurological benefits of omega-3 fatty acids seem both wide-ranging and quite convincing, so it’s high on our recommended list.
The amino acid acetylcarnitine has shown benefit for brain function in a number of studies with humans. In the last decade, acetylcarnitine has also been investigated for peripheral neuropathy in people with HIV. (Some recommend using it with evening primrose oil and Vitamin C.) A 2008 study found that acetylcarnitine influences a chemical process in the brain that triggers Alzheimer’s, so researchers are continuing to puzzle out how this supplement produces its neurological benefits.
Antioxidants. There’s much suggestive research about how antioxidants counter destructive oxidative processes in the brain, thus blocking memory loss and cognitive decline. For example, a 2003 report found that the antioxidant combination alpha lipoic acid and NAC reversed memory loss in aged laboratory mice. And there’s also been a lot of attention to the combination acetylcarnitine and alpha lipoic acid for memory impairment. Furthermore, other antioxidants such as curcumin are under study for their potential to fight the processes that lead to declining brain function.
Acetylcholine. The first neurotransmitter to be identified, acetylcholine is closely associated with memory, with lower levels linked to memory loss. NYBC currently stocks two combination supplements that support acetylcholine levels in the brain, while also providing other nutrients for neurological function: Neuro Optimizer (Jarrow), which includes acetylcholine enhancers, acetylcarnitine, and alpha lipoic acid; and Think Clearly (SuperNutrition), which includes B vitamins, as well as acetylcholine enhancers and a botanical traditionally used for cognitive support, ginkgo biloba.
Resveratrol. In the past decade, there has been intense scientific interest in this compound, most famously found in red wine. While some research ventures have hoped to find in resveratrol a life-extending supplement (a capacity demonstrated in animal studies), others have focused on its therapeutic value for conditions like diabetes or cognitive decline. For example, Cornell researchers reported in 2009 that resveratrol reduced the kind of plaque formation in animal brains that causes Alzheimer’s. And a year later another lab investigation, this one at Johns Hopkins, found that a moderate dose of the compound protected animal brains from stroke damage.
Ginkgo biloba, a botanical derived from Earth’s most ancient tree species, has been widely used for cognitive function. In the late 1990s, two reviews of dozens of ginkgo studies concluded that it could improve symptoms of dementia. However, a long-term trial of ginkgo published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2008 found that the supplement did not prevent development of dementia in a group of more than 3000 older people who had normal cognitive function at the start of the research. One possible conclusion: ginkgo may help symptoms of cognitive decline, but doesn’t address underlying causes.
NYBC’s RECOMMENDATIONS: A B complex supplement (like Jarrow’s B-right) and fish oil (like Jarrow’s Max DHA) are foundations for maintaining cognitive health, especially important for people with HIV or people over 60. There is some evidence for acetylcarnitine, alpha lipoic and acetylcholine supplementation for memory impairment and possibly for cognitive decline. Acetylcarnitine and other supplements can be used to address peripheral neuropathy. And stay tuned for emerging research on preserving brain function with compounds like resveratrol, NAC and curcumin.
February 18, 2011
Resveratrol again!
For a while it seemed like the excitement about resveratrol–the molecule famously found in red wine–had died down.
A few years ago widely publicized studies showed that resveratrol had potential as a life-extending supplement (it showed that capacity in lab animals). And there was buzz when companies raised hundreds of millions in venture capital to explore the possibilities further. One catch with that high-profile research was that it involved very high doses of resveratrol. (The equivalent of drinking hundreds of bottles of red wine a day!)
However, in just the past couple of years, scientific interest has come back to resveratrol, and this time it is pointing to substantial health benefits without those massive doses.
First, cardiovascular health. In 2009, a Univ. of Wisconsin research team reported that low doses of resveratrol in the diet of middle-aged mice could have many of the same effects as the high dose reseveratrol, especially in terms of protecting heart health. Second, in 2010, John Hopkins researchers reported on a mechanism by which resveratrol shielded mice from stroke damage to the brain. A single small dose of the compound increased levels of an enzyme that protects nerve cells in the brain from damage when blood flow is disrupted by stroke.
It’s also just been announced that the scientific research organization of Denmark will run a multi-year study of resveratrol for diabetes. This announcement follows the news from December 2010 that our hometown Albert Einstein Medical Center has been awarded an NIH grant, also for a study of resveratrol and diabetes.
All in all, resveratrol seems to remain a very promising research topic!
You can find resveratrol in two forms at the NYBC. (Resveratrol Synergy adds some of the additional parts of the grape that are thought to have health benefits, and combines those with green tea extract, another food extract that researchers believe may have health bnenefits.)
December 10, 2010
Resveratrol and Resveratrol Synergy
Recent well-regarded research has provided evidence that resveratrol can decrease the kinds of inflammation associated with heart disease, and can improve motor coordination, reduce cataract formation and preserve bone mineral density in aging laboratory animals. (See, for example, the report on an NIH-funded study published in the journal Cell Metabolism in August 2008.) In short, resveratrol may counteract many typical types of age-related deterioration in the body. As the researchers have noted, these anti-aging effects mimic the effect of drastically reducing (by 30-50%) food intake—but without requiring such a near-starvation diet.
That’s the recent research background on resveratrol. We’ll also note that resveratrol as a compound with potential health benefits was originally isolated as a component of red wine. Of course, in supplement form resveratrol can provide its health benefits without requiring the user to drink alcohol. That’s a practical advantage to supplementation that can’t be ignored.
Note that in addition to “Resveratrol,” NYBC also offers a compound supplement from Jarrow called “Resveratrol Synergy.” This product includes includes resveratrol, grape seed extract, and green tea extract. Grape seed extract has been studied mostly for cardiovascular support, while green tea has recently accumulated some interesting research supporting its anti-cancer and anti-aging effects.
To read more about these two supplements, see the NYBC entries:
Resveratrol: http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=50&products_id=330
and
Resveratrol Synergy: http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=50&products_id=245
January 27, 2010
Info sheet on “Supplements studied for diabetes/insulin resistance”
NYBC has prepared an updated version of its info sheet on the topic of supplements that have been studied for diabetes or insulin resistance. Here’s the text below:
SUPPLEMENTS STUDIED FOR DIABETES/INSULIN RESISTANCE
Multivitamin/multimineral: Regular use of a multivitamin/multimineral supplement helps people with diabetes maintain good health and reduce infections. Clinical evidence indicates that diabetics have unique nutritional needs, and should take a daily multivitamin to supplement their normal diet.
Note: NYBC stocks Jarrow’s Multi 1-to-3; Douglas Lab’s Added Protection, and SuperNutrition’s family of multivitamins (such as the Opti-Pack).
Reference: Barringer, et al. Effect of a Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement on Infection and Quality of Life. Annals of Internal Medicine. 3/4/2003.
Omega-3 fatty acids (Fish Oil): Many people with diabetes have high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Omega-3 fatty acids have shown benefit for cardiovascular health in recent randomized controlled clinical trials. The FDA has also approved a health claim for fish oil: “supporting but not conclusive evidence shows that the consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.”
Note: NYBC stocks Max DHA –Omega-3 Fish Oil Purified by Molecular Distillation (Jarrow); and ProOmega –Nordic Naturals (60 softgels or 180 softgels).
Alpha-Lipoic Acid: Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) has the ability to assist with glucose metabolism, and also promotes healthy nerve function. A recent study concluded that ALA (600mg) could be useful in helping to treat the symptoms of diabetes-related neuropathy (= generally, pain, tingling, numbness in feet and hands).
Note: NYBC stocks ALA (Montiff) 300mg/60.
Reference: Ametov et al. The sensory symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy are improved with alpha-lipoic acid: The SYDNEY Trial. Diabetes Care. 2003, 26 (3)
Other supplements studied for diabetes: Chromium and biotin (these two supplements, taken together, are believed to play an active role in balancing insulin production with glucose uptake). Also: evening primrose oil, resveratrol, bitter melon.
Talk to your doctor before you use these or other supplements. Do not discontinue medications you are taking for diabetes/glucose control without first discussing with your healthcare provider any complementary treatments you are considering!
August 28, 2009
Red wine, resveratrol and cancer prevention
Research on resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, continues to draw media attention, especially as biotech companies in recent years have poured millions into potential patentable compounds that could have dramatic “anti-aging” properties. One of the most interesting health effects of resveratrol is its anti-cancer power, and so we recently decided to stop in at the National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health general information page on red wine, resveratrol and cancer prevention, just to see how this particular aspect is being presented. This federal government site aims to keep up with reseach trends in cancer prevention (though actually this particular fact sheet seems a bit behind the curve), and usually provides a quite cautious viewpoint on the evolving research. Here’s a short extract:
The cell and animal studies of red wine have examined effects in several cancers, including leukemia, skin, breast, and prostate cancers. Scientists are studying resveratrol to learn more about its cancer preventive activities. Recent evidence from animal studies suggests this anti-inflammatory compound may be an effective chemopreventive agent in three stages of the cancer process: initiation, promotion, and progression.
Research studies published in the International Journal of Cancer show that drinking a glass of red wine a day may cut a man’s risk of prostate cancer in half and that the protective effect appears to be strongest against the most aggressive forms of the disease. It was also seen that men who consumed four or more 4-ounce glasses of red wine per week have a 60 percent lower incidence of the more aggressive types of prostate cancer.
However, studies of the association between red wine consumption and cancer in humans are in their initial stages. Although consumption of large amounts of alcoholic beverages may increase the risk of some cancers, there is growing evidence that the health benefits of red wine are related to its nonalcoholic components.
You can read more at
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/redwine
March 18, 2009
Reviewing “Resveratrol Synergy” from Jarrow
Jarrow Formula’s supplement “Resveratrol Synergy” is a combination of several plant-derived nutrients that have been intensively researched in recent years, including resveratrol (the famous component of red wine), grape seed extract, and green tea. This phytonutrient blend provides the body with antioxidants, anthocyanins, polyphenols and catechins, which are generally acknowledged to support cardiovascular health, as the Jarrow label states.
But there is more to these plant-derived nutrients, as you may know from hearing news reports, especially about resveratrol. Typically found in the skin of red grapes and in red wine, resveratrol has been the subject of scientific investigations suggesting that it possesses unique life-extending and anti-aging properties. Some of the recent studies draw a causal connection between gene protection and high levels of resveratrol consumption; other research has focused on how resveratrol may switch on a particular “survival gene” that offers a whole host of health benefits, from cardiovascular support to diabetes prevention.
As far as product quality goes, NYBC noted that a recent Consumer Labs report found that the ingredients matched the label claim–one good measure of integrity for “Resveratrol Synergy.”
For more information, see the NYBC entry:
January 28, 2009
Resveratrol: Why It Matters in HIV
This is the title of a posting by John S. James on the www.aidsnews.org website. Resveratrol, found in red wine (but also derived from other sources to produce dietary supplements), has been the object of research in the last couple years pointing to its potential as a life-extending compound with strong cardioprotective effects. As John James suggests below, it may also be of special interest for people with HIV. One problem, however: in the scramble to create a patentable drug from the resveratrol molecule, well-financed biotech companies may be disregarding some of the compound’s potential, while focusing merely on the fastest way to produce a “blockbuster drug” that will yield big profits.
Summary: Large doses of resveratrol (found in small amounts in red wine) made headlines recently for extending the lifespan of mice on an unhealthy diet. This and other substances found in some wines and foods may protect against cardiovascular disease or diabetes, and improve the functioning of mitochondria in cells (which could reduce certain adverse effects of HIV or the drugs used to treat it).
[...]
Comment re HIV: Studies We Need Now, and Why We Are Unlikely to Get Them
Earlier, some researchers looked at resveratrol as a possible HIV treatment — although we have not seen any papers published on this since 2004. (To check what has been published in peer-reviewed journals and read the abstracts, visit http://www.pubmed.gov and enter “resveratrol hiv” without the quotation marks into the search bar near the top of the window, then click Go).
Today we would most want to see small trials to find out if resveratrol might help relieve certain drug side effects, or other problems resulting from HIV disease — including lipid or other metabolic abnormalities, or neuropathy, or other symptoms suspected of being caused by mitochondrial damage. Trials aiming to relieve symptoms, or normalize blood levels that are easily measured, could potentially get results fairly quickly and with a fairly small number of volunteers. This is because a measurement is always available, avoiding the need to wait for rare “events” like disease progression or death, for end-point data to be collected.
The main problem in organizing such trials is that there is little economic incentive, unless the goal is to develop a costly, proprietary drug (requiring lots of bureaucracy and generating years of delay). Today greed is usually the sine qua non of drug development within the U.S. and multinational corporate system, and this system imposes its standards on the world. Greed in medicine is prone to intolerable abuses (when companies or individuals sacrifice the health of thousands of people for the promise of more profit for themselves). Therefore it requires heavy-handed controls, which cause major administrative delays and other lost opportunities, delays and losses that are not medically or scientifically necessary. We need alternative drug development systems. But institutional abuses (such as patents on human biology) make alternatives difficult.
You can read the complete posting at
November 12, 2008
Red wine, green tea and epidemiological paradoxes
As they’re scanning data on populations and health, epidemiologists sometimes happen upon an association that they identify as a “paradox.” A classic example is research in the 1970s on Greenlanders, who had a very high comsumption of fats–and yet, paradoxically, also showed low rates of heart disease.
A high-fat diet was generally associated with a high rate of heart disease elsewhere in the world, so why not in Greenland? The secret, it turns out, was that prominent among the fats consumed by Greenlanders were marine fats–fish oil, with its omega-3 fatty acids. (You’ve read about steadily increasing interest in the cardiovascular health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in several postings on this blog.)
Then there’s the “French paradox.” Again, epidemiological studies pointed to a population with a rather high rate of saturated fat consumption (think cheeses, pate, sauces)–and yet the incidence of cardiovascular disease was not so elevated. Although many causes for this paradox have been set forth, probably the most popular explanation focused on red wine, a typical accompaniment to those high-fat French meals, and the source of a number of intriguing compounds, including one called resveratrol.
Resveratrol has attracted much research scrutiny over the years, and has been linked to multiple health benefits, including anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects, blood sugar lowering properties, and cardioprotective effects. Other research has focused on the ability of resveratrol to extend the life span of several short-living species of animals. Widely publicized investigations from just the last few years have looked to genetics to help explain how resveratrol might exert a life-extending effect similar to extremely low-calorie diets (we’re talking about near starvation)–but without the extreme caloric deprivation.
And here’s still another “paradox” being mulled over by the epidemiologists: the “Asian paradox.” In a 2006 study, investigators at Yale’s School of Medicine reviewed more than 100 studies on the health benefits of green tea, finding lower rates of heart disease and cancer in Asia despite high rates of cigarette smoking. Their theory? The average of 1.2 liters of green tea consumed by Asians each day would seem to provide high levels of polyphenols and other antioxidants. These compounds may improve cardiovascular health in several ways, including preventing blood platelets from sticking together and countering the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol)–which, in turn, can reduce the build-up of plaque in arteries.
All of the above sounds like excellent detective work on the part of the epidemiologists, but there are certain cautions. So much is now known about the cardioprotective properties of fish oil that both the American Heart Association and its European counterpart now include it as a standard recommendation for lowering cardiovascular risk. Yet it’s probably fair to say that scientists’ understanding of resveratrol and green tea is not so far along, and therefore the assertion of health benefits must be more provisional, awaiting further investigation and refinement. Still, it’s pretty clear that the researchers are onto at least something, so we’re grateful to those who first wondered at the meaning of epidemiological “paradoxes” such as these!
Fish oil, resveratrol, and green tea extract are all available as dietary supplements. For more information on how they are used, see the NYBC entries:
Fatty Acids (includes Fish Oils – Max DHA from Jarrow and Pro Omega from Nordic Naturals).
You’ll find hundreds of articles on these supplements, but here are two recent references of special interest:
Barger JL, Kayo T, Vann JM, Arias EB, Wang J, et al. (2008) A Low Dose of Dietary Resveratrol Partially Mimics Caloric Restriction and Retards Aging Parameters in Mice. PLoS ONE 3(6): e2264. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002264
Sumpio BE, Cordova AC, Berke-Schlessel DW, Qin F, Chen QH. Green tea, the “Asian paradox,” and cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American College of Surgeons 202: 813-825 (May 2006)
