Resveratrol

The Process Of Aging

Oxidative stress and how it
promotes aging

As we age, the body’s free radical levels rise to the point that our natural anti-oxidant system can no longer handle them. This leads to oxidative stress, a state of unbalanced levels of free radicals and anti-oxidants causing the uncontrolled oxidative damage to cells [1]. As it accumulates through aging, high oxidative stress becomes an underlying cause of accelerated aging, leading to frailty, organ failure and a plethora of diseases [2, 3, 4]
Inflammation in cells and the
effects it produces

As a natural protective mechanism, inflammation is activated to resolve an underlying health issue by inducing pro-inflammatory genes to mount an effective immune response that is mediated by recruitment of immune cells. Unfortunately, aging causes dysregulated inflammation and research shows that this uncontrolled process in older people – termed inflammaging – plays a key role in the development of major age-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, and Alzheimer’s disease [5, 6].
DNA replication errors
leading to aging

DNA replication is a highly accurate process that occurs during cell division for growth or tissue repair; however, unhealthy lifestyle and poor nutrition can induce blips in the DNA code during this process and mutations may arise that can hasten the aging process [7]. These errors can be fixed by our enzymes, but it becomes less efficient as we grow older, resulting to abnormal gene expression, defective cells, and even cancer initiation [8, 9]
Telomere shortening and what
it means in terms of aging

Telomeres are specialized structures at the end of the DNA that functions as protective caps of chromosomes to protect it from getting damaged and prevent mutations. Longer telomeres are linked to longer lifespan in contrast to shorter telomeres, and consistently, younger people have longer telomeres. Breakthrough discoveries show that by boosting the activity of telomerase (the enzyme that maintains telomere length) tissue degeneration and aging can be reversed [10, 11, 12]. Indeed, Resveratrol has telomere protective effects. Research shows that Resveratrol activates genes for DNA repair and telomerease, the enzyme that lengthens the telomeres.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5927356/

2. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1566-2772(03)00007-0

3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2019.100982

4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550413120300097?via%3Dihub

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5850851/

6. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-018-0064-2

7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tma.2021.05.002

8. https://elifesciences.org/articles/62852

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4588127/

10. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature09603

11. https://www.aging-us.com/article/202188/text

12. https://www.spandidos-publications.com/ijmm/48/5/199]

How Resveratrol Supports Healthy Aging

Acts As An Antioxidant

Free radicals are unstable and highly reactive molecules important in physiological processes, like battling infection. These molecules are powerful and physically destroy microbes to kill them, but they can do the same to healthy cells [1, 2]. To keep them in check, our body naturally produces free radical scavengers called antioxidants, however, their production plummets as we age. Resveratrol is a natural and powerful antioxidant that can safeguard our cells against free radicals.

Role As An Anti-Inflammatory

Inflammation is the body's way of responding to injury or infection, and it plays an important role in the healing process. However, inflammation can also lead to a host of health problems including heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline, especially as we age. For this reason, it's important to keep inflammation under control. Resveratrol has been proven to induce anti-inflammatory effects, promote the healing process, and reduce the risks of these diseases [3, 4].

Mimics The Chemical Pathways Of Caloric Restriction

Caloric restriction has been shown to have a range of health benefits including DNA repair, protection against oxidative stress, and increasing anti-aging genes called Sirtuins. But sometimes it can be difficult to stick to a calorie-restricted diet. Resveratrol mimics the induction of the protective pathways of caloric restriction, providing an alternative way to reap its benefits to prevent age-associated cellular deterioration, without having to cut back on calories. [5, 6, 7, 8]

Boosts Energy Levels, Improves Cognitive Function, Regulates Blood Sugar

Resveratrol has been shown to boost energy levels [9, 10] and improve memory and focus [11]. It has also been shown to protect against age-related cognitive decline and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease [12], promote healthy blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes [13].