Diabetes Diet
Red Wine’s Magic Ingredient (continued)
How it lowers blood sugar
Resveratrol is now being studied as a potential new therapy for type 2 diabetes. Scientists have pinpointed a group of enzymes, called sirtuins, which are involved in many diseases of aging. SIRT1, which is activated by resveratol, is involved in regulating metabolism.
"Activation of SIRT1 lowers blood glucose and improves insulin sensitivity," explains Peter Elliott, Ph.D., senior vice president and head of development for Sirtris Pharmaceuticals. So SIRT1 activators, such as resveratrol, may be useful in treating diabetes. Sirtris is currently testing a proprietary resveratrol formula known as SRT501 in patients with type 2 diabetes.
What you can do now
With potential therapies like SRT501 several years away from hitting the marketplace, you may want to consider other ways to tap into resveratrol's power. Resveratrol supplements, typically made from certain herbs or red wine or grape extracts, are available at health food stores; however, the effective dose has not been determined and you need to talk to your doctor before trying these or any supplements — especially those that can affect blood sugar and possibly have dangerous interactions with medications.
A glass of red wine with dinner, on the other hand, may be beneficial. "There is some evidence that people who drink moderately have lower death rates than those who do not drink or who drink more than seven drinks in a week," explains Richard Hellman, MD, chancellor and immediate past president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. "As long as your liver is healthy and your blood pressure and triglycerides are normal, a small glass of wine should be fine, but check with your doctor first."
Finally, resveratrol is also found in many food sources, so be sure your diet includes at least one of the following: red grapes, blueberries, bilberries, cranberries, mulberries, pomegranates, and peanuts.
<<PREVIOUS: Read More on Red Wine's Benefits!<<
SOURCES:
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, http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002264, (Accessed 6/5/08)
Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Research for Optimum Health. Micronutrient Information Center: Resveratrol. Oregon State University. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/phytochemicals/resveratrol/ (Accessed 6/5/08)
University of Wisconsin-Madison. Agent in red wine found to keep hearts young.
http://www.news.wisc.edu/15296 (Accessed 6/5/08)
The World's Healthiest Foods. Resveratrol: the special compound found in grapes.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=46 (Accessed 6/10/08)
Reviewed by Susan Weiner, R.D., M.S., C.D.E., C.D.N. 10/08