Resveratrol & Sirtris - Why Big Pharma is Interested in Resveratrol

One of the most popular health ingredients today is Resveratrol. After research conducted by a team of experts headed by Dr. David Sinclair of the Harvard Medical School has proven that Resveratrol-treated laboratory mice exhibited astounding health benefits from the compound, media coverage has boosted the Resveratrol appeal so much that it is now touted as a super-food.

Many pharmaceutical companies are taking advantage of the research-proven benefits of Resveratrol, manufacturing so-called Resveratrol pills and selling them off as wonder drugs. However, the research on Resveratrol, though both comprehensive and intensive, is still relatively young. Sirtris is one of the pioneering companies focused on developing Resveratrol for humans to be able to maximize the health benefits it currently provides to laboratory mice. Sitris is now a GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical company co-founded by Dr. David Sinclair. 

Research at Sirtris focuses on taking advantage of the sirtuins, a family of genes that regulate the aging process. The regulation of the sirtuins suggest significant implications in the prevention of various age-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart diseases, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, and inflammatory diseases. Sirtuins are specifically activated by Resveratrol. Sirtris experts have more to find out for this family of genes, but significant research has been done on SIRT1, the first of these genes.

It is said that Resveratrol stimulates SIRT1 to help produce the same health benefits provided by calorie restriction. SIRT1 is said to help produce more energy because it triggers the formation of new mitochondria, which, in turn, increases the metabolic rate that helps burn fats and convert them to energy much faster.

In studies done by Sirtris, laboratory mice given doses of Resveratrol showed lower levels of glucose and more improved insulin sensitivity. These mice also performed much better than those that were not given Resveratrol in an endurance test, where the mice had to undergo a treadmill run. Those treated with Resveratrol actually ran two times farther than those who were administered with placebo. More mice that were not given Resveratrol also died from cardiac diseases, commonly hypertrophy, apoptosis/fibrosis, and cardiac dysfunction.

Resveratrol is a well-known SIRT1 activator. It can also stimulate the gene to fight the death of neurons, which lead to degenerative neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and optic neuritis. Sirtris is still on the brink of developing drugs made from Resveratrol so that we can make the most out of the scientifically-proven benefits that we may get from a regular dose of the compound. Research is relatively still very young, and there is more to wait for when it comes to Resveratrol.

Based on research, the top recommended resveratrol supplement is Resveratrol Select