A look at how resveratrol, a component of red wine, may be used to treat HD
Antioxidant Capabilities
Oxidative stress (also known as oxidative damage) is believed to play a major role in the degeneration of nerve cells in HD. (For more information on oxidative stress, click here.) Studies indicate that resveratrol is an excellent antioxidant (also known as free radical scavenger), which means that it is very good at combating oxidative stress. What makes resveratrol such a good antioxidant? Researchers believe that the substance works by inhibiting monoamine oxidase (MAO), which is an enzyme found especially in the liver and nervous system that generates free radicals. Free radicals are dangerous because they are highly reactive. They tend to react with important structures in cells and accelerate nerve cell injury. By reducing levels of MAO, resveratrol decreases the number of free radicals that degrade nerve cells. Having fewer free radicals may slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as HD.
In several rat studies, giving resveratrol to rats led to decreased levels of certain free radicals in the brain. Additionally, the activities of several antioxidant enzymes increased. Not only can resveratrol prevent free radicals from forming, but it can also decrease the toxicity of free radicals by inhibiting a process called lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation is the process whereby free radicals steal electrons from the lipids in our cell membranes and cause damage to the cell. (For more information on lipid peroxidation, click here.) Rat studies indicate that resveratrol significantly inhibits lipid peroxidation in cells. Interestingly, studies also reveal that resveratrol may be up to 20 times more effective than vitamin E in terms of getting rid of free radicals . This may be because resveratrol has both water-soluble and fat-soluble properties whereas vitamin E works best in a fat-soluble environment.
Last Modified: 05/22/2009
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