Wrong Resveratrol?

Resveratrol has age-defying power.₁ It switches on the genes your body naturally uses to extend life under conditions of stress (like starvation). They’re called "sirtuins." They slow the death timer that’s ticking in every cell in your body. This gives your cells time to repair themselves—and live longer. Resveratrol promotes health in virtually every system of the body, including the prostate,₂ heart, and age-related brain conditions._3,4 I’ve even uncovered a slew of studies that haven’t come out yet. They add more proof to the long list of resveratrol’s health benefits. Check these out:

• Cancer. Scientists discovered that it puts the brakes on cancer cells at every stage in their development.₅ It stops the cells from dividing, growing, and spreading. Another found it works with UVB rays to kill off skin cancer.₆
• Inflammation. It protects the body from the effects of inflammation.₇ Inflammation lies at the core of virtually every known age-related condition, from heart disease to arthritis.
• High blood pressure. Researchers in Japan discovered that it prevents the body from producing angiotensin, the hormone that causes your blood vessels to narrow.₈

Here’s the catch: not all resveratrol is the same. You need the right kind to get the benefit. There are actually two different types—"cis" and "trans" resveratrol. Every study I mentioned identified trans-resveratrol as the key health-promoting ingredient. The problem is that the trans form is highly unstable. Research shows that it quickly turns into the cis kind when exposed to extended periods of heat or light during the manufacturing process. _9,10 The best way to make sure you’re getting the right kind of resveratrol is to get it in natural form. You can find it in red wine, plums, blueberries, and cranberries. The problem is you’d have to drink about 10 glasses a day to see the benefit. Pure, natural extracts that have been processed and stored in the right conditions are the best way to go. That means they have to be kept in cold conditions and away from natural light. Otherwise that "trans" turns to "cis" . . . and you’ve wasted your money. I suggest taking 100 mg of pure trans-resveratrol daily.

1. See Baur et al. "Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet." Nature. 2006. 444:337-342; Howitz et al, "Small molecule activators of sirtuins extend Saccharomyces cerevisiae lifespan." Nature. 2003. 425(6954):191-6; and Lagouge et al. "Resveratrol improves mitochondrial function and protects against metabolic disease by activating SIRT1 and PGC-1alpha." Cell. 2006. 127(6):1109-22.
2. Harper et al, "Resveratrol suppresses prostate cancer progression in transgenic mice." Jou al of Carcinogenesis. 2007. 28(9):1946-1953.
3. Parker et al. "Resveratrol rescues mutant polyglutamine cytotoxicity in C. elegans and mammalian neurons." Nature Genetics. 2005. 4:349-50.
4. Philippe Marambaud. "Resveratrol promotes clearance of Alzheimer's disease amyloid-beta peptides." Jou al of Biological Chemistry. 2005. 280(45):37377-82.
5. A Bishayee. "Cancer Prevention and Treatment with Resveratrol: From Rodent Studies to Clinical Trials." Cancer Prevention Research (Philadelphia, Pa.). 2009 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print]
6. Roy et al. "Resveratrol Enhances Ultraviolet B-Induced Cell Death through Nuclear Factor-kappa B Pathway in Human Epidermoid Carcinoma A431 Cells." Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 2009. [Epub ahead of print]
7. Gautam R, Jachak SM. "Recent developments in anti-inflammatory natural products." 2009. Medicinal Research Reviews. 2009 Apr 17. [E pub ahead of print]
8. Inanaga et al. "Resveratrol attenuates angiotensi II-induced interleukin-6 expression and perivascular fibrosis." Hypertension Research. 2009. Apr 17. [Epub ahead of print]
9. Brent C. Trela and Andrew L. Waterhouse. "Resveratrol: Isomeric Molar Absorptivities and Stability." Jou al of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 1996. 44(5):253–1257.
10. "Science of Resveratrol." fr. Resveratrol for Life: The Definitive Guide to Resveratrol News, Advice, and Resources.