Resveratrol – A Calorie Restriction Mimetic

One of the health benefits of Resveratrol is “calorie restriction mimetic”, which simply means that certain drugs and chemicals mimic the reactions of a diet that is restricted in calories. Taking a resveratrol supplement can provide the benefits of ingesting fewer calories, while not having to suffer the pains of hunger.

Restricting the number of calories consumed has been shown to extend the lifespan of laboratory animals and delay the onset of age-related illnesses such as diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. Lifespan in some species was increased by as much as fifty percent.

When conducting experiments on rats and mice in laboratories, researchers observed the effects of calorie restriction to increase both the average and maximum life span of these animals. The total amount of calories in their diet was reduced by 30 to 40 percent, without reducing the total nutritional intake, such as the quality of vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates. Benefits included a reduction in the incidence of age-related illnesses and improved resistance to stress.

In the body, a natural process occurs where new proteins are continually formed while abnormal proteins are eliminated. As humans age, fewer new proteins are made and damaged proteins are eliminated less efficiently. This results in a greater proportion of damaged proteins in the cells, which in turn contributes to the aging process. Calorie restriction speeds up the creation of new proteins and helps the body eliminate abnormal proteins, which allows the cells to function more efficiently.

The clinical effects of calorie restriction include the following:

  • lower blood pressure and body temperature
  • reduced blood glucose levels and body weight
  • improved DNA repair and abnormal protein elimination
  • decreased free radicals
  • lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
  • reduced fat and increased muscle mass
  • improved memory and physical activity levels
  • reduced chronic illness (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis)

Although all of these effects are positive for the human body, the problem with calorie restriction is dealing with hunger. Few people are willing to endure a 30 to 40 percent reduction in calories in order to live a few years longer. Calorie restriction mimetics are drugs or chemicals that imitate the anti-aging effects of eating fewer calories without having the side effects of being hungry.

Although scientists have understood the effects of calorie restriction on laboratory animals, they have recently conducted studies on humans to test if the same results occurred. The researchers conducted a study over 3 to 15 years that reduced the number of calories consumed by 10 – 25%, but the tests are still in their preliminary stages.

There was no way to determine whether the live span of the participants had increased, but they noted several health benefits. These included a lower Body Mass Index (BMI), low LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and high HDL (good) cholesterol levels, low blood pressure, low blood glucose levels, and low C-reactive protein levels. Thus, the studies showed the participants were living healthier lives.

The participants in the study also reported some negative results from reducing their calorie intake. These included a decrease in nutrition, decrease in muscle mass, dizziness, nausea, weakness, irritability, and constipation. In order to combat these negative side effects, mimetics such as food supplements and nutrients containing resveratrol could be taken that imitate calorie restriction while providing all the positive side effects.

Resveratrol is an all-natural substance found in red wine, and regular drinkers have seen a lower occurrence of heart disease. While conducting animal studies, the positive effects of resveratrol were found to be lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides and glucose levels. All of these effects benefit the heart.
If calories are reduced, then care must be taken to ensure that nutrition levels are not also decreased. If nutrition levels are lowered, then many health problems result. Deficiencies in vitamin D3 contribute to heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer. The percentage of overweight people in the United States, and those with nutritional deficiencies are increasing, despite having a high standard of living.

By taking a balanced nutritional supplement each day, you can have the benefits of resveratrol without becoming nutritionally deficient. Many nutritional supplements contain resveratrol and many other nutrients, including calorie restriction mimetics. Some of the benefits of taking resveratrol can be seen immediately while others are long term. These supplements help people live healthier and longer lives.