By Paddy Kamen, Publisher, BetterBrainBetterLife.com
After years of believing that we may be doing our brain good by drinking small-to-moderate amounts of red wine, new research finds that resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol compound produced by the skin of red grapes and peanuts, may in fact be harmful to our brains, particularly if we have MS.
The research, conducted on mouse models, and published in The American Journal of Pathology has found that resveratrol actually worsened MS-like neuropathology and inflammation and had no neuroprotective effects.
According to a news release published on Eurekalert.com: The degree to which resveratrol exacerbated demyelination and inflammation surprised the research team. “Our findings illustrate that caution should be exercised for potential therapeutic application of resveratrol in human inflammatory demyelination diseases, including MS,” says lead investigator Ikuo Tsunoda, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Molecular & Tumor Virology of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA.
In contrast, research by Emma Wightman from the University of Northumbria, reveals that resveratrol improved blood flow to the brain and brain function in human adults.
After years of believing that we may be doing our brain good by drinking small-to-moderate amounts of red wine, new research finds that resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol compound produced by the skin of red grapes and peanuts, may in fact be harmful to our brains, particularly if we have MS.
The research, conducted on mouse models, and published in The American Journal of Pathology has found that resveratrol actually worsened MS-like neuropathology and inflammation and had no neuroprotective effects.
According to a news release published on Eurekalert.com: The degree to which resveratrol exacerbated demyelination and inflammation surprised the research team. “Our findings illustrate that caution should be exercised for potential therapeutic application of resveratrol in human inflammatory demyelination diseases, including MS,” says lead investigator Ikuo Tsunoda, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Molecular & Tumor Virology of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA.
In contrast, research by Emma Wightman from the University of Northumbria, reveals that resveratrol improved blood flow to the brain and brain function in human adults.
Twenty four adults undertook a series of mental tests for a period of 60 minutes before which they were given either a placebo, 500mg or 1000mg of pure polyphenol resveratrol. Cerebral blood flow was monitored throughout the testing phases. The results showed a change in blood flow to the brain and significant improvements in cognitive performance in the participants who had been given resveratrol.
Wightman’s subjects were normal human adults; Tsunoda’s subjects were mice with a serious brain disorder that damages the protective covering (myelin sheath) that surrounds nerve fibers in our brains and spinal cords.
It appears that Dr. Tsunoda’s research raises important cautions about the use of resveratrol; perhaps it isn’t a miracle supplement after all, or at least not for everyone. Dr. Tsunoda told BetterBrainBetterLife that, as far as the red wine goes, moderate drinkers, even with MS need not worry, for the dosages of resveratrol used in the study are the equivalent of drinking 100 bottles of red wine.
Wightman’s subjects were normal human adults; Tsunoda’s subjects were mice with a serious brain disorder that damages the protective covering (myelin sheath) that surrounds nerve fibers in our brains and spinal cords.
It appears that Dr. Tsunoda’s research raises important cautions about the use of resveratrol; perhaps it isn’t a miracle supplement after all, or at least not for everyone. Dr. Tsunoda told BetterBrainBetterLife that, as far as the red wine goes, moderate drinkers, even with MS need not worry, for the dosages of resveratrol used in the study are the equivalent of drinking 100 bottles of red wine.
“I would like to emphasize that our research discourages supplemental use of resveratrol in MS patients, but does not discourage ingestion of food that contain resveratrol. Drinking red wine and eating red grapes and peanuts are fine in all MS patients, since the content of resveratrol is very low compared with resveratrol supplement.”