Re: Resveratrol—The Secret to Longevity?

[Guest guest]

Mindblog does an experiment with resveratrol, the anti-aging compound by Deric

Brownd:

This compound appears to mimic the effects of caloric restriction in some

animals, and in some cases extends lifespans. It has effects on enzyme profiles

that resemble those caused by exercise. With some hesitation, I decided to do a

self-experiment, taking the compound for several weeks to see if I noted any

steady state changes in physiology, energy, temperament, etc. and then stopping

the supplement to observe whether any changes I noted went away. (Goggling away

on the web, you find a large number of sites, having almost the aura of cults,

claiming wondrous properties of this new magic molecule.)

If you don't feel like reading through the whole account below, the bottom line

is that after noting some positive, but transient, positive changes in energy

and temperament, the appearance of arthritic symptoms led me to terminate the

self-experiment. The arthritic symptoms then disappeared. (Added note, in

response to immediate input from a reader of this post: Resveratrol is an

anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) agent and in some instances this may trigger

autoimmune symptoms.)

The hesitation to start this experiment derived from my experience when I tried

this in 2004. Then, as now, I used resveratrol obtained from Now Foods, pills

containing 400 mg of a root extract that claims to contain 200 mg resveratrol.

After a few weeks I noted that my hands were becoming stiff, finger joints were

starting to 'click' , i.e. arthritic symptoms. I freaked out, stopped the

resveratrol, and started taking glucose amine, chondroitin sulfate, MSM,

Calcium, Magnesium. The arthritis went away over the next week or two, but of

course I didn't know whether to attribute that to stopping the resveratrol,

starting the latter supplements, or placebo effect.

So, this time I started 200 mg with breakfast, tried to stay very flat and

objective in my observations, especially attentive to any negative effects. (I

tried in vain to find in the literature, on the web, any reported negative side

effects reported by people taking resveratrol.) On day 11, I started another 200

mg with dinner.

On day 13, I decided to write down a number of effects, fairly subtle, but quite

clear. (I had been looking mainly for negative symptoms, and so required the

following observations to be clear and sustained, noticed as facts, not goals,

with changes clearly different from the previous period in a sustained way. My

food intake and level of formal exercise (gym) activity had not changed

significantly.)

-more constant energy in just moving through a day, from one activity to

another… (While running at gym, I didn't begin to slow down after the first

mile).

-an absence of mildly negative, curmudgeonly, temperament, the temperament being

now more flat to positive.

-more sexual energy (I check the web: resveratrol inhibitis the esterase that

breaks down testosterone)

-a bit more spontaneous emotional reactivity, to memories, things in the

environment,

-the daily weight range (lowest on waking in the a.m. then plus a few pounds by

gym weighing) may have shifted down 1-2 pounds

By day 15 I'm deciding I don't think the weight range has changed significantly.

Further, over a period of just a few days, everything seems to return to where

it was, as if physiological and temperamental homeostatic mechanisms had noted a

'perturbation' and so were returning the body to its normal set-points. On day

16 I sign off on thinking that the positive effects reported above are long

term. I also realize that hand stiffness has been increasing over the past few

days, finger joints have started clicking. (These observations seem to be

contrary to several reports that resveratrol inhibits enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2)

involved in inflammatory arthritic responses.)

I continue to take the 400 mg of daily resveratrol for two more days, note

increasing arthritic symptoms, and discontinue on day. 19. Over the next week,

the stiffness and clicking joints disappear, and hand movements become supple

again.

So, that is it. Deric's experiment was finished. Don't think I'm going to go

there again.

=============

Carruthers

Wakefield, UK

>

> From Berkeley Wellness

> http://www.wellnessletter.com/

> Ralph Giarnella MD

> ********************

> Resveratrol†" The Secret to Longevity?

>

>

>

> Many eminent scientists are interested in resveratrol, and some findings have

> been tantalizing. But is it really the “Holy Grail of aging research,†as

a

> Harvard researcher described it?

> Resveratrol is one of many naturally occurring plant chemicals called

> polyphenols. It is found in grapes, peanuts, mulberries, and blueberries,

among

> other edible (and nonedible) plants. Red wine is rich in it; white wine has

> some, too. Many reports have called resveratrol the ingredient in wine that

> appears to protect drinkers from cardiovascular disease.

> First isolated in 1940, resveratrol has been a subject of scientific study

ever

> since. And, indeed, under a microscope, it appears to do nearly

everything†" for

> good or bad.

> For example:

> • In studies of yeasts and other small organisms, high doses of resveratrol

have

> lengthened lifespan. Mice, too, live longer when given resveratrol. These

> findings gave rise to the anti-aging claims of supplement marketers.

> • Resveratol sometimes behaves like a plant estrogen. As such, it may

activate

> genes controlled by estrogen. This raises the possibility that it might

promote

> certain cancers.

> • On the other hand, resveratrol sometimes behaves like, an anti-estrogen,

and

> this raises the possibility that it might help suppress those same cancers.

> • Resveratrol is an antioxidant. Some researchers have proposed that it thus

may

> help protect against cardiovascular disease, but this is far from proven.

> • On the other hand, good studies have found that resveratrol, under some

> circumstances, can act like a pro-oxidant and can thus damage cells. It has

been

> theorized that this property might be useful for treating cancer.

> • Resveratrol can have anti-inflammatory and anti-prostaglandin effects.

> (Prostaglandins are chemicals involved in many bodily processes, including

> pain.) That is, resveratrol has something in common with aspirin and other

> nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

> • Lab studies suggest that resveratrol has neuroprotective properties. If

these

> could somehow be harnessed, they might help prevent some of the degenerative

> diseases of aging.

> Resveratrol is being tested at many research institutions as a treatment for

> such disorders as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease, as

well

> as for preventing cancer. One hope, apart from its possible preventive or

> life-extending uses, is that resveratrol will prove useful for treating heart

> disease and cancer.

> Promising†" but not yet ready for prime time

> If you are considering taking resveratrol, keep in mind that there have been

no

> good human studies. It appears to be safe, but its long-term effects are an

open

> question. Any substance that seems to do almost everything and can play

opposite

> chemical roles deserves careful study. Even if it proves beneficial, no one

> knows what an optimal dose is. Perhaps one day drug companies will be selling

> resveratrol, with some evidence of safety and effectiveness via human studies.

> But in the meantime, as a dietary supplement, resveratrol can continue to make

> many vague health claims with no proof.

> Until more is known, get your resveratrol from your diet: grape juice, grapes,

> blueberries, peanuts. If you enjoy a glass of wine, that’s fine. It’s

known that

> the alcohol has heart benefits; perhaps the resveratrol provides benefits,

too.

>

>