Resveratrol and DHEA – anti-aging tools
The so-called French paradox refers to the fact that people in France
have relatively low frequency of heart disease despite the fact that
they stuff themselves full of butter and smoke like yesterday’s
chimney. Believe it or not, the phenomenon was first noted by Irish
physician Samuel Black in 1819. For instance, the average French person
consumed 108 grams per day of fat from animal sources in 2002 while
the average American consumed about 72 grams. The French eat four times
as much butter, 60 percent more cheese and nearly three times as much
pork. They definitely love their fat! Who can blame ‘em. Fat tastes
darn good. And with the recent discovery of the ‘new’ fat
‘taste’ receptor published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation,
it makes sense why we love the feel of fat in our mouths.
So what explains this bizarre paradox of eating lots of saturated fat,
yet having lower levels of heart disease and perhaps better health overall?
It’s called wine my friends. And more specifically, the active
ingredient in red wine is something called resveratrol.
This amazing ingredient found in grapes and red wine is well known for
its positive effects on longevity in yeasts, worms and flies. Hey, you
gotta start somewhere and scientists always like studying these ‘simple’
organisms first before moving on to the more complicated hominid variety
(i.e. us). Also, resveratrol has been shown to have anti-cancer and
anti-inflammatory effects.1, 2
More importantly, this ingredient could have profound effects on the
health of women. Resveratrol and trans-resveratrol (i.e. the ‘trans’
version is a slightly different molecular configuration of the resveratrol
molecule) are powerful phytoestrogens, present in the skins of grapes
and other plant foods and wine. As you may know, phytoestrogens are
naturally occurring plant-derived non-steroidal compounds that are functionally
and structurally similar to steroidal estrogens, such as estradiol,
produced by women. Conventional hormone-replacement drugs may cause
serious adverse effects including stroke and gallbladder disease, and
a host of other maladies such as endometrial, uterine and breast cancers.
So where does resveratrol fit in?
Recent research demonstrates that trans-resveratrol binds to human estrogen
receptors and increases estrogenic activity in the body. Scientists
looked at the effects of protykin, a standardized extract of trans-resveratrol
from Polygonum cuspidatum, on heart function in rats with heart damage.
They discovered that protykin had tremendous cardioprotective effects
via its ability to reduce or remove the reactive oxygen species (i.e.
damaging free radicals) in the heart muscle. According to these scientists,
“these data suggest that trans-resveratrol supplementation may
be a potential alternative to conventional hormone-replacement therapy
for cardioprotection and osteoporosis prevention and may confer other
potential health benefits in women.”3
In another intriguing study, scientists compared the effects of resveratrol
with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major catechin found in
green tea, on tumor formation in rats. They found that resveratrol in
the diet can reduce susceptibility to mammary cancer, while EGCG in
the drinking water at the dose used was not effective.4
But resveratrol isn’t just for women. There are animal studies
which show that sperm count and plasma testosterone is higher in animals
that consume resveratrol!5 So suffice it to say that drinking one glass
of red wine a day is something I’d recommend for improved health
and wellness.
DHEA
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a type of steroid produced in the adrenal
glands (i.e. a small gland that sits on top of your kidneys). Your body’s
production of DHEA peaks in your mid-20s, when DHEA is the most abundant
hormone in circulation. From one's early '30s on, there's a steady decline
in DHEA production. Taking DHEA may increase IGF-1 (insulin-like growth
factor 1) levels and increase the sense of well-being. DHEA levels decrease
with age. Also, optimal levels of DHEA are associated with increased
energy, healthy immune and cardiovascular function, and better mood.
What’s some of the latest evidence for DHEA?
First off, we know that DHEA protects against excess fat accumulation
and development of insulin resistance in rats.6 More importantly, let’s
examine what happens in humans. The plasma or blood levels of DHEA drop
about 80% between ages 25 and 75 yrs. Muscle mass and strength also
decrease with aging. Thus, what happens if we replace some of this ‘lost’
DHEA?
Scientists conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled
study of the effects of 10 months of DHEA replacement therapy with the
addition of weight-lifting exercise training during the last 4 months
of the study. The dose of DHEA was 50 mg per day taken at bedtime.
DHEA alone for 6 moths did not significantly increase strength or thigh
muscle volume. No significant increases in strength or thigh muscle
volume occurred in response to 6 mo of DHEA replacement. However, DHEA
therapy potentiated the effect of 4 months of weight-lifting training
on muscle strength evaluated by means of one repetition maximum measurement
and by Cybex dynamometry, and on thigh muscle volume measured by magnetic
resonance imaging. Serum insulin-like growth factor concentration increased
in response to DHEA replacement. This study provides evidence that DHEA
replacement has the beneficial effect of enhancing the increases in
muscle mass and strength induced by heavy resistance exercise in elderly
individuals.7
Another study looked at the effects of DHEA replacement on bone mineral
density (BMD) and body composition in elderly women and men (average
age of 73 years) with low serum DHEA sulphate (DHEAS) levels. They found
that bone mineral density of the total body and lumbar spine increased,
fat mass decreased and fat-free mass increased. Thus, the results provide
preliminary evidence that DHEA replacement can in part reverse age-related
changes in fat mass, fat-free mass, and bone mineral density. Scientists
believe that increases in IGF-I and/or testosterone play a role in mediating
these effects of DHEA.8
Another study had 56 elderly persons (28 women and 28 men aged 71 [range,
65-78] years) with age-related decrease in DHEA level. They received
50 mg/d of DHEA or matching placebo for 6 months. DHEA therapy compared
with placebo induced significant decreases in visceral and subcutaneous
fat. The group that took DHEA also were more ‘insulin sensitive.’
Again, more evidence of the benefits of DHEA replacement and it’s
potential role in prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome
associated with abdominal obesity.9
Bottom line: There’s absolutely no reason that we should accept
the ‘fate’ of poor health and function with age. You’ve
got an arsenal of tools that can improve the quality of life as well
as make you look better. A daily dose of DHEA (50 mg/day) can potentially
improve your looks and health where drinking a glass of red wine daily
(or taking a resveratrol supplement) could indeed protect your heart,
decrease your risk for certain cancers, and not to mention the obvious.
Wine tastes darn good.
Side Bar – Sound Bites on Resveratrol and DHEA
What is it?
Resveratrol is a chemically referred to as a polyphenolic phytoalexin.
It’s found in the skin of red grapes and red wine.
DHEA – is a steroid hormone produced by your adrenal glands.
What does it do?
Resveratrol has been show to have a number of beneficial health effects
such as anti-cancer, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory as well as cardioprotective
effects.
DHEA has been shown to improve body composition (i.e. increased fat-free mass, decreased fat mass, improved bone mineral density) and improve overall mood and health in older individuals.
Commonly Consumed Dose for Efficacy
Reservartrol - A glass or two of red wine daily
DHEA – 50 mg taken daily
1. Valenzano DR, Cellerino A. Resveratrol and the pharmacology of aging:
a new vertebrate model to validate an old molecule. Cell Cycle. May
2006;5(10):1027-1032.
2. Delmas D, Lancon A, Colin D, Jannin B, Latruffe N. Resveratrol as
a chemopreventive agent: a promising molecule for fighting cancer. Curr
Drug Targets. Apr 2006;7(4):423-442.
3. Bagchi D, Das DK, Tosaki A, Bagchi M, Kothari SC. Benefits of resveratrol
in women's health. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 2001;27(5-6):233-248.
4. Whitsett TG, Jr., Carpenter DM, Lamartiniere CA. Resveratrol, but
not EGCG, in the diet suppresses DMBA-induced mammary cancer in rats.
J Carcinog. May 15 2006;5(1):15.
5. Juan ME, Gonzalez-Pons E, Munuera T, Ballester J, Rodriguez-Gil JE,
Planas JM. trans-Resveratrol, a natural antioxidant from grapes, increases
sperm output in healthy rats. J Nutr. Apr 2005;135(4):757-760.
6. Han DH, Hansen PA, Chen MM, Holloszy JO. DHEA treatment reduces fat
accumulation and protects against insulin resistance in male rats. J
Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. Jan 1998;53(1):B19-24.
7. Villareal D, Holloszy JO. DHEA Enhances Effects of Weight Training
on Muscle Mass and Strength in Elderly Women and Men. Am J Physiol Endocrinol
Metab. Jun 20 2006.
8. Villareal DT, Holloszy JO, Kohrt WM. Effects of DHEA replacement
on bone mineral density and body composition in elderly women and men.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). Nov 2000;53(5):561-568.
9. Villareal DT, Holloszy JO. Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin
action in elderly women and men: a randomized controlled trial. Jama.
Nov 10 2004;292(18):2243-2248.