Resveratrol found to improve health, but not longevity (at least in mice)

In the July 3rd online edition of Cell Metabolism (linked below), it was reported that scientists funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, have found that the compound resveratrol slows age-related deterioration and functional decline of mice on a standard diet, but does not increase longevity when started at middle age. Resveratrol has been a popular topic in the media due to its association with red wine consumption leading to many studies and stories about certain health benefits of drinking red wine.

The compound, found naturally in foods like grapes and nuts, may mimic, in mice, some of the effects of dietary or calorie restriction, the most effective and reproducible way found to date to alleviate age-associated disease in mammals. Research has shown that calorie restriction (of 30 to 50% below normal levels) can delay the onset of age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, and kidney disease. In developed countries, much of the population now survives to the point where chronic age-associated diseases such as these are the major determinants of illness and death.

The real promise of resveratrol might be for the quality of life of seniors:

Researchers found that resveratrol decreased functional decline often seen in the frail and elderly, such as osteoporosis, cataracts, and motor coordination. For example, in general, femurs from the resveratrol-treated mice trended toward better bone properties, suggested that resveratrol could reduce age-induced bone loss in normal mice. Cataract formation was also lessened by resveratrol in a dose-dependent manner. The mice on a SD treated with resveratrol also showed a significant improvement in balance and motor coordination. The resveratrol treated mice also had improved markers for cardiovascular health. Their arteries were more youthful, and they had reduced aortic stiffness. They also had fewer free radicals and DNA damage.

It should be noted that the authors stressed that the study's findings are based on research in mice, not in humans, whose health is influenced by a variety of factors beyond those which may be represented in the animal models.

Sources: NIH Press Release adn Sirtris Press Release