A look at how resveratrol, a component of red wine, may be used to treat HD
Resveratrol Overview
Resveratrol has a special “aromatic” chemical structure that reacts with free radicals to make them less toxic. It is officially classified as a phytoalexin. “Phyto” means plant and “alexin” means to ward off or protect. Phytoalexins are produced by some plants in response to fungal infection or injury. Remarkably, resveratrol may be able to protect humans, just as it protects plants. Numerous studies suggest that a high resveratrol intake is associated with reduced incidence of heart disease, cancer, and age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's. HD, too, may be a part of this list, but further research is needed to confirm this notion.
You might be wondering why we are only talking about red wine and not just wine in general. The skins and seeds of grapes are used in the production of red wine, but not in the production of white wine. Since resveratrol is most highly concentrated in grape skins, the concentration of resveratrol is significantly higher in red wine than in white wine. Many researchers now believe that this may explain a health phenomenon known as the French Paradox. The paradox is that the rate of heart disease in France is lower than observed in other industrialized countries despite the fact that the country’s diet is rich in saturated fats. The fact that the French consume more wine, and thus have a higher resveratrol intake than people in other industrialized countries, explains why they do not suffer from a high rate of heart disease. Aside from red wine, resveratrol can also be found in peanuts and in the dried roots of a plant known as the Japanese knotweed. The plant is prescribed in traditional Asian medicines to treat liver and heart conditions.
Last Modified: 05/22/2009
An educational product of HOPES, not to be used in place of medical care. For more information about HOPES, click on the Logo.
To contact HOPES with comments or questions, click here.
