Human chromosomes have a group of genes, called sirtuins, that appear to protect us from diseases associated with aging. A recent study, published in Science, demonstrated that a compound found in some very healthy foods increases the activity of one of these genes — SIRT1 — in mitochondria, the “powerhouse” of our cells.
Resveratrol is found in the skin of grapes, red wine, berries, peanuts, and dark chocolate. The study’s author suggests where this research is headed:
“This was the killer experiment,” said Sinclair. “There is no rational alternative explanation other than resveratrol directly activates SIRT1 in cells. Now that we know the exact location on SIRT1 where and how resveratrol works, we can engineer even better molecules that more precisely and effectively trigger the effects of resveratrol.”
You can bet that pharmaceutical companies will latch onto this study pronto. There are already resveratrol supplements available on the market. I can see synthetic resveratrol fortifying every processed food we eat in the very near future, the way DHA and ARA fortifies every infant formula.
But the question I have is simple: why would you choose a synthetic chemical when nature provides the real thing in wonderful and delicious ways?
Let’s see: Dark chocolate, red wine, fruits and nuts versus a pill from a factory. A tough choice. Not!
Read more at Medical News Today here.