Resveratrol Side Effects, Benefits, Dosage, and Research Information - My Resveratrol Experience

David Sinclair at TEDMED - Discussing Resveratrol, Longevity, Endurance, and Sirtuins

 

 

When it comes to Resveratrol research there is no one more well known then David Sinclair, PhD.  His research into resveratrol and aging is becoming the foundation of future studies in numerous medical science fields.  It is also leading to studying the uses of resveratrol in many other areas such as diabetes, various sirtuin genes, rare diseases, and endurance.  Take 20 minutes and watch this video.

Last year, Sinclair gave a speech at TEDMED that gives a synopsis of resveratrol and how it can benefit us moving forward.  Just being invited to speak at TED is a special experience.

For those who are unfamiliar with what TED is, they are a nonprofit organization who organizes conferences that disucss, "Ideas that are worth spreading."  Since 1984 TED has expanded into several sub fields, technology, medicine, entertainment, and various other fields.  They provide 20 minute presentations on some of the hottest topics and those topics that are unknown.

Here are some links to important information shown in this video and post:

TED Website
David Sinclair Wiki Page
David Sinclair Harvard Medical School Bio

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Resveratrol Side Effects - Understanding My Resveratrol Experience Website

As the three year birthday of My Resveratrol Experience approaches I thought it would be a good idea to explain a few things to the new, and existing, readers of this site.  

My Resveratrol Experience (MRE) was created at a time when there was very little information on resveratrol available to people on the web.  MRE was created just prior to the resveratrol boom (when Sirtris wasn't owned by GSK) that brought out the scammers and legitimate business minds alike.  At that time I knew very little about resveratrol and was learning along with everyone else online.  I am still learning every day.

Since the start of MRE the site has grown to include thousands of followers and visitors every week.  Many of the new readers of MRE reach us because they are searching for "real user experiences" or "resveratrol side effect" information.  When people search for these things they often find MRE and end up staying a while reading all of the user accounts.  MRE helps to provide some clarity or direction for some people and that was my original intentions.

The Use of Resveratrol and Stomach Sensitivity

Resveratrol, Stomach Sensitivity, and Diarrhea, Oh My!

There is no doubt that Resveratrol is a revolutionary natural supplement.  In mice and some human trials, resveratrol has been found to help those with diabetes, muscular issues, and certain cancers.   While it is generally experimented upon using mice, there are some trials for human beings that have helped to verify some of the claims that are made on behalf of Resveratrol.  In addition to the positive effects resveratrol may have there are also potential negative side effects.   A remaining question is whether it actually helps to deal with the problem of stomach sensitivity or helps to cause it.

Some individuals are unable to deal with strange substances including Resveratrol.  They might have allergic reactions to them or they might not be able to absorb them easily.  That is a challenge supplement makers and resveratrol users alike are faced with, but there are means by which stomach sensitivity can be overcome.

From an absorption perspective, many people choose to take resveratrol via the buccal mucosa method.

Applying Resveratrol Use To Our Cats and Dogs?

Is Fido The Next Big Resveratrol Consumer?

A large majority of Resveratrol studies has been done using mice.  This has led many to the conclusion that Resveratrol has positive implications for cats and dogs.  Of course these animals are "slightly" different from human beings and therefore the medical conditions that they suffer from are bound to be differentiated.  However they are not totally outside the influence of Resveratrol.  In fact, it is possible that there might be an explosion of products that are used by researchers in relation to the animals mentioned above.  Most of the experiments start with animals before they move on to human beings.  Therefore there is some sort of cross pollination in the way that these issues are dealt with.

The area of cancerous cells is one which has the power to affects cats and dogs in a way that is very similar to the way it affects human beings.  The presence of Resveratrol might be the catalyst that is needed to take the necessary steps towards improving the outcomes for these animals and their ability to cope with the circumstances that are before them.

Potential Benefits of Resveratrol for Endurance Athletes

The Use of Resveratrol in Endurance Sports - Swimming, Running, Cycling

Endurance athletes combine stamina, technique and mental strength. The ability for Resveratrol to improve mental strength is still debatable, however, there still lies the possibility that it can improve concentration and mental acuteness.  However, it might be beneficial in other aspects that are important for athletes. Research has indicated that Resveratrol is able to improve endurance of individuals if it is taken within the context of a regulated environment. The endurance athletes require great balance in order to do their work. The possibilities for Resveratrol to be part of this process are then opened in a way that was not previously seen.

There is also the serious matter of the work that goes into the production of the Resveratrol products for this sort of benefit. The controlling authorities would need to be convinced that Resveratrol should not be on the banned substances list. This is an uphill struggle because it is fairly  clear that the use of Resveratrol will help an athlete to achieve a balance that might be useful for endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, cyclists, and swimmers.

Are Western Medicine Doctors Accepting of Natural or Holistic Treatments?

The Debate On The Most Appropriate Course Of Action

Traditionally, doctors who practice Western medicine traditionally have not been too accepting of the value of holistic or natural medicine. The first issue that comes to mind is the ego of the individuals concerned. The Western doctors are determined to maintain their supremacy over the health matters of the community while the holistic and natural are determined to be part of the process even if this means that there is an increased likelihood for friction. This struggle will define the way that the different elements react to the research developments in the medical world. A large majority of Western Medicine Practitioners are frankly dismissive of anything that is outside their technical understanding.

Resveratrol Reviewed: Where Can We Find Natural Sources of Resveratrol?

Resveratrol is a natural substance found in numerous species of plants. Their ultimate functioning is to protect the plants from the attacks of micro organisms, including bacteria and heat.  Red wine is a popular alcoholic drink that is a rich source of resveratrol.  There are also many other sources of resveratrol that are easy to find and explained below.

Red wine grapes are fermented for a longer period when compared with white wines. This substance is rich in anti-oxidizing agents which may have certain anti-aging benefits along with cardiovascular potentials. Resveratrol is said to be best absorbed via the walls of our mouths, also known as, buccal delivery.  Some people choose to hold red wine in their mouth for a few seconds prior to swallowing.  The same can be said for those who take resveratrol supplements orally. This property of absorbance makes it one of the best resources of resveratrol and can lead to extra ordinary health benefits.

Berries have a smaller quantity of resveratrol content in them. Cranberries and blueberries have a larger proportion when compared with other fruits. A proper diet is highly recommended to stay healthy. This diet must contain all the essential ingredients and nutrients that are important to have a healthy life style. Peanuts are a good source and one must remember that once fruits are heated, the amount of resveratrol gets reduced drastically. Resveratrol is also found in almost 70 species of flora, mulberries, strawberries, lilies, and eucalyptus.

Sirtris Halts SRT501 Study

Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, a division of GlaxoSmithKline, has recently announced they have halted trials of their SRT501 formula.  As pointed out by a reader of this blog, you can find more information by reading this article published in the Wall Street Journal.  They also have a follow up piece on the WSJ blog that can be found here: WSJ Health Blog

The Resveratrol Buzz Quiets Down!

Needless to say, the past year, make that the past two years, has been rather hectic in the resveratrol world.  Resveratrol went from the most obscure of health supplements to being the talk of all major news and media outlets.  You couldn't turn your head without running into a resveratrol ad online, in food stores, or pharmacies.  Simply put, Resveratrol was everywhere!

While resveratrol hasn't fallen off the radar of health enthusiasts, the "buzz" has certainly calmed down.

Is this a good thing and what does it mean for the future of resveratrol?

Those two questions are not easily answered, but here is my take on the subject...

First, the resveratrol phenomenon was both good and bad for the industry.  It was bad in that numerous scams and deceptive companies sprung up like spring weeds.  They claimed to solve every health problem under the sun and extend life indefinitely.  Unfortunately, this caused a plethora of negative press and was not good for the industry.

Resveratrol and Related Compounds Questioned over SIRT1 Activation

In the anti-ageing research world, there is a quiet but albeit, an important battle brewing. The battle is over whether or not resveratrol and compounds similar to it, such as SRT1720, actually do directly activate SiRT1.

The implications of such findings would have a great impact on companies developing anti-aging drugs or therapies associated with the SiRT1 gene.  It will be interesting to see where the research takes us.

I have gathered some links for those of you interested in reading more on the topic:

SRT1720, SRT2183, SRT1460, and Resveratrol Are Not Direct Activators of SIRT1.

Faculty of 1000 Biology: evaluations for Pacholec M et al J Biol Chem 2010 Mar 12 285 (11) :8340-51

Ageing: Much ado about ageing

Nature News: Published online 24 March 2010 | Nature 464, 480-481 (2010) | doi:10.1038/464480a

Questions Rise Over Anti-Aging Drugs

Doubts grow over resveratrol and other compounds under development at the GSK company.

Technology Review, Published by MIT  Author: Emily Singer

Cardiologists Comment on Aspirin Versus Resveratrol

It is not often we see Medical Professionals speaking about the benefits of Resveratrol so openly.  In a press release earlier today, Doctors from the Advanced Cardiology Institute in Ft. Lee, New Jersey, spoke out about there use of suggesting resveratrol to their patients.  Here are a few excerpts and links to the article:

"With the realization that half of the people experiencing a sudden mortal heart attack were taking aspirin on the day of their demise, and the fact that higher-than-recommended doses of aspirin are needed to prevent blood clot formation in coronary arteries, coupled with an announcement that the red wine molecule resveratrol (rez-vair-ah-trawl) may protect from sudden mortal heart attack in a superior fashion to aspirin, suggests re-evaluation of cardiology's current instruction regarding prevention of heart attacks, says Nate Lebowitz MD, cardiologist with the Advanced Cardiology Institute in Ft. Lee, New Jersey."

"Dr. Lebowitz says resveratrol appears to exhibit broader action than aspirin. Resveratrol is documented to reduce clotting that may block blood circulation in coronary arteries, reduce homocysteine, an undesirable blood protein associated with cardiovascular disease, reduce markers of inflammation like C-reactive protein, regenerate vitamin E, as well as release adenosine, the molecule responsible for the "pre-conditioning" effect seen in animal experiments."

For more information you can read the complete article at PR Newswire.

Resveratrol Drug Interactions: A Little Common Sense Please!

There is no other way of saying this other than, "I am simply frustrated lately."  I am frustrated by what I see as a lack of simple common sense from people.  The numbers seem to be increasing, where as with the wealth of information that is available, the missing common sense equation should be going down.

We have all experienced this at one time or another (probably multiple times) and we often just sit in disbelief or shake our heads at how irresponsible people can be with their thought processes, or lack thereof.  While I am not trying to say I am the smartest person in the world (actually I am extremely far from it) I do like to think of myself as having a solid foundation of common sense.

In the nearly two years of writing this blog, My Resveratrol Experience, I have spoken to and read comments from thousands of people.  I love this part of blogging; getting to meet new people from all over the world with similar interests.  However, lately I have seen an increase in comments that I like to refer to as, "Are you kidding me!?!" moments.

The most common, "Are you kidding me!" comments have been related to people who have decided to take resveratrol along with any other prescribed medication without discussing this with their Doctor first.  Some people even have a list of medications they are taking.  Now if you have obtained prescribed medications then a fair assumption would be you also have a primary care physician as well.  So there is absolutely no excuse for not asking your doctor how resveratrol might effect you or interact with these medications.

New Resveratrol Article In Fitness Magazine

The February 2010 issue of Fitness Magazine, published an article written by Richard Laliberte titled, "Resveratrol: The New Weight-Loss Supplement?"  The article features personal accounts by women in their 20's and 30's. The article also highlights some nice fact finding regarding the potential physical fitness benefits of resveratrol, completed by the writer.

While the article is focused mainly on how resveratrol effects women, I think it is a worthwhile read for men as well.  Laliberte provides useful information, both positives and safety concerns, for those interested in taking resveratrol as a potential fitness enhancer. Enjoy the read!