A Nutrient That May Extend Maximum Life Span
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On August 25, 2003, the results of a landmark study were released showing
that a substance from grapes and other plants (resveratrol) extended the
life span of yeast cells by 70%.*
What caused the media to pay so much attention to this study is that
resveratrol activated a “longevity gene” expressed during caloric
restriction. Since caloric restriction extends maximum life span in mice,
rats and other mammals, scientists speculated that this is the first time
that humans might be able to derive some of the benefits of caloric
restriction by taking a pill.*
We realize that yeast is relatively low on the evolutionary ladder compared
to mice, rats and humans, yet the results of the yeast study may be highly
significant. Life Extension plans to fund a gene chip analysis to find out
to what degree resveratrol mimics the gene expression effects of caloric
restriction in mammals. Humans have a more complex version of the same gene.
If resveratrol were a new drug, some people might be concerned about side
effects, or whether it would really work in humans. The good news is that
resveratrol has already been extensively studied, and has been consumed by
humans for centuries in wine and medicinals. Scientific studies show that
resveratrol has powerful effects against cardiovascular disease, cancer,
inflammatory disorders and a host of other age-related illnesses.*
The most common source of resveratrol is wine, a beverage with many health
benefits. Given all the positive research, drinking wine in moderation
appears to be a healthy thing to do.* However, drinking wine is not the best
way to go about getting a consistent amount of resveratrol for health since
its concentration is highly variable, depending on growing conditions of the
grapes and how the wine is made. If the wine isn’t made with organic grapes,
it may contain no resveratrol at all. The only way to be certain about
resveratrol intake is to take a standardized supplement.
For the past two years, the Life Extension Foundation has been working with
a European pharmaceutical company to produce a high-potency resveratrol
extract for low-cost dietary supplements. The result of this collaboration
is a standardized grape concentrate containing resveratrol in an amount
suggested by scientific studies to favorably impact aging and certain
medical conditions.*
In order to make this promising nutrient as widely available as possible,
resveratrol has been added to one of the most popular supplements already
used by Life Extension members. This means members can obtain the benefits
of resveratrol without having to take any additional capsules. The new
resveratrol extract is also available as a low-cost one-per-day supplement.
Source : LifeExtension.com
