WHAT IS RESVERATROL?
Resveratrol is an antioxidant phytochemical from the group of polyphenols and has already been discovered in more than 70 plant species, such as .in red grapes, raspberries, blueberries, apples, soy or peanuts. However, it is mainly concentrated in the skins of red grapes and serves as the plant's natural defense against parasites, fungal infestation and adverse weather conditions such as moisture, UV radiation and temperature fluctuations.
Resveratrol is considered the secret of the so-called French paradox, which refers to the good heart health of the French despite high alcohol and fat consumption. However, the amounts of resveratrol in red wine are probably not sufficient for a noticeable effect. Because you would have to drink so much wine that the disadvantages of alcohol would outweigh it.
The plant with the highest resveratrol content is the Japanese knotweed. Resveratrol is found in all parts of the plant, but mostly in the root. That's why we use it as a 100% natural source for our Resveratrol capsules.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIS AND TRANS-RESVERATROL?
Resveratrol exists in two different geometric forms (so-called isomers): cis- and trans-resveratrol, whereby only the trans form shows full bioactivity
CAN RESVERATROL ALSO BE CONSUMED SUFFICIENTLY THROUGH FOOD?
Food unfortunately only contains the smallest amounts of resveratrol. To consume the contents of one capsule of resveratrol (500 mg), for example, you would need 400 kg of red grapes or 1250 kg Eat apples. The values for red wine vary greatly, but even if one assumes the maximum value of 10 mg per liter of red wine, it becomes clear that the amount of one capsule cannot be consumed even with red wine - at least not without the consequential damage of increased alcohol consumption.
By the way, grape juice is not an option either, even if you would drink it by the liter, because it contains significantly less resveratrol than red wine. Because the resveratrol is mainly found in the skin of the grapes, which is discarded as pomace during the juice production after the grapes are pressed. In red wine production, on the other hand, there is sufficient time for the resveratrol from the skins to pass into the wine during the mash fermentation.
WHEN AND HOW SHOULD RESVERATROL BE TAKEN?
Studies suggest that resveratrol in the morning on an empty stomach and combined with grape seed extract (OPC) has the best bioavailability.
- Combination with piperine: Wightman E.L., Reay J.L., Haskell C.F., Williamson G., Dew T.P., Kennedy D.O. Effects of resveratrol alone or in combination with piperine on cerebral blood flow parameters and cognitive performance in human subjects: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over investigation. Br. J. Nutr. 2014;112:203-213. doi: 10.1017/S0007114514000737
- Take in the morning on an empty stomach: Almeida L., Vaz-da-Silva M., Falcão A., Soares E., Costa R., Loureiro A.I., Fernandes-Lopes C., Rocha J ., Nunes T, Wright L, Soares-da-Silva P. Pharmacokinetic and safety profile of trans-resveratrol in a rising multiple-dose study in healthy volunteers. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2009;53:7-15. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200800177
- Combination with grape seed extract (OPC): Rotches-Ribalta M., Andres-Lacueva C., Estruch R., Escribano E., Urpi-Sarda M. Pharmacokinetics of resveratrol metabolic profile in healthy humans after moderate consumption of red wine and grape extract tablets.Pharmacol Res. 2012;66:375-382. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2012.08.001
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTS?
Resveratrol simulates the effect of fasting
Cellular waste is constantly being produced as part of cell metabolism, such as errors in protein synthesis (misfolded proteins) or damaged mitochondrial parts. This waste is normally broken down by cellular cleaning processes, especially by the so-called autophagy, the cellular "recycling system". The lysosomes then dock onto these waste products, and their enzymes break this waste down into its individual components, making it recyclable. Lysosomes are therefore also referred to as the "stomach" of our cells.
Unfortunately, in old age, this autophagy no longer works so well, so that molecular garbage accumulates in the cells and ultimately impairs normal cell functions. Over the years, this cellular waste can then contribute to the relevant diseases of old age, such as diabetes, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.
One way of activating autophagy is caloric restriction (fasting). Because when there is a shortage of food, the body activates the enzyme "sirtuin" and thus autophagy to extract nutrients to release the "protein garbage". And quasi as a side effect of this nutrient extraction, misfolded proteins and defective organelles are broken down. This also fits well with the observation in numerous studies that caloric restriction in laboratory animals has prolonged life and counteracts aging processes.
The first systematic study of the beneficial effects of caloric restriction was by Clive McCay in 1937: a 33% caloric restriction in laboratory rats has a) a significant increase in maximum lifespan and b) a 50-year increase in average lifespan % causes.
Resveratrol is able to activate the sirtuin enzyme even without caloric restriction. In a double-blind, crossover study, overweight but otherwise healthy participants received resveratrol 150 mg/day or a placebo for one month. In the resveratrol group, metabolic changes were found that also occur with caloric restriction. The SIRT1 was activated, the fat content of the muscle cells increased (where the fat was then burned), while the fat in the liver decreased; the mitochondria in the muscle cells were more active and blood sugar levels fell, as did systolic blood pressure, blood lipid levels and inflammation levels (see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22055504/ ). This basic principle seems to be the reason for numerous positive health effects of resveratrol, which are already well documented by studies.