Resveratrol Use Increases Energy Levels

Scientists have conducted numerous studies on the effects of resveratrol, and concluded that it reversed the effects of obesity in mice. They further observed that mice receiving resveratrol supplements showed higher energy levels and had longer life spans than those mice that did not receive the supplement.

When tested in a laboratory, mice were given endurance tests by running on a treadmill prior to collapsing. The mice that did not receive the supplement were able to run for about one kilometer, while the mice that received resveratrol were able to run about two kilometers before stopping due to exhaustion. The mice treated with resveratrol had greater muscle control and strength, and their heart rate when at rest was significantly lower than untreated mice.

Upon further investigation of these results, the scientists studied mitochondria levels, which are the main generators of power in the body that exist in every cell. In order to improve power and energy levels, the doctors realized that resveratrol must have been affecting the levels of mitochondria in the mice. When the treated mice were examined, they were found to have higher amounts of mitochondria than the untreated mice, resulting in their ability to run for longer periods of time and burn extra fat.

After discovering these amazing results in mice, a team of doctors in Illkirch, France, who worked at the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, began studying the impact of resveratrol on humans. The volunteers were given high quality supplements that contained resveratrol. The initial studies have been completed and show results in humans that are similar to the results that occurred in mice.

Doctors have found that resveratrol is a supplement that prevents degenerative diseases and increases life span, and is effective in fighting the effects of aging. When studying how resveratrol accomplishes this benefit, they discovered that the body utilizes sirtuins (Sir2), which are proteins that are involved in extending the life span of cells, and are found in the DNA of all living plants and animals. These enzymes are designed to regulate the metabolism, protect the system and boost energy levels. The effectiveness of sirtuins declines with age, and resveratrol is able to reverse this process.

One of the doctors who worked on this experiment was named Dr. David Sinclair, a pathology professor at Harvard Medical School. He found that resveratrol could offset the effects of a diet that was high in fat and prolong the life of rats. He believed that resveratrol affects a gene called SIRT-1, which plays a role in regulating the life span of animals. A theory exists that claims SIRT-1 is activated by calorie restriction.
He was so impressed with these results that in the Spring of 2004, he co-founded a company with Christoph Westphal, named Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated. This company is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and its mission was to develop a drug that will improve the body’s own defense systems against the diseases caused by aging.

Sirtris has conducted two preliminary studies to verify additional benefits of resveratrol, which includes a way to combat diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels. The company developed an improved formulation of resveratrol called SRT501 to treat diabetes, and is currently conducting clinical trials on this drug.
The research conducted by Sirtris showed so much promise that in June 2008; the company was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline, a major British pharmaceutical company, for $720 million.

Scientists are excited to learn more about the benefits of resveratrol and its anti-aging properties. As a result of these studies, many scientists have started taking daily supplements that contain resveratrol in either a liquid or capsule form. In fact, Dr. David Sinclair has been taking the drug for the past three years.