Resveratol in Red Wine Can Prevent Strokes
A study using mouse models has demonstrated that resveratrol, a component found in grape skin and seeds, can prevent stroke.
The study showed that resveratrol increases levels of an enzyme in the brain — heme oxygenase — that was already known to shield nerve cells from damage.
Dore said the beneficial effects associated with drinking a moderate amount of red wine could be explained by the fact the wine turns on the heme oxygenase anti-oxidant system.
What does ‘moderate’ mean?
They say about 2 glasses a day, although another study says 1 glass may be enough to reduce the overall risk of stroke and the risk of ischemic stroke in men and greater consumption does not increase the benefit.
Of course, resveratrol capsules are also sold as a nutritional supplement. However, as the Clinical Cases and Images Blog points, out, these dietary supplements are not FDA regulated, so who knows if they are what they claim to be at all? And besides, there has been very few data linking resveratrol and human health. Most studies on this compound have been conducted on animal models.
For more information this polyphenolic compound, refer to Linus Pauling Institute’s well-documented piece on resveratrol.
the problem with supplements is that they contain other stuff or chemical ingredients which could be harmful in accumulation. i guess moderate wine drinking depends on one’s body mass/weight, like in drug dosage. he he.
Natural compounds can indeed by purified and sold as “nutraceuticals”. The FDA has a provision for that, but very few earn such label, though, as it requires extensive (and expensive) testing and development similar to what pharmaceuticals do.
Personally, I’d rather eat the real thing, if it confers the same effect. It’s much more fun and satisfying than downing a pill
Take a look at this from an article in the New york Times; (Quote)”the mice were fed a hefty dose of resveratrol, 24 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Red wine has about 1.5 to 3mg of resveratrol per liter, so a 150lb person would need to drink 750 to 1500 bottles of red wine a day to get such a dose.”
Sounds like the tests Monsanto did to prove that Saccharin was carcinogenic – fed mice the equivalent of 1000 litres of Tab/day.
Sometimes people go a tad overboard in their assumptions.
Be careful of what you take…