Published on November 11, 2007

Antiaging pill works for yeast, worms, flies and mice, and may work for humans too

... but will likely take a long time to prove it. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a clinical trial on 85 volunteers for a proprietary formulation of resveratrol developed by Sirtris Pharmaceuticals.

Resveratrol belongs to a class of polyphenolic compounds called stilbenes and is found in grape skins, raspberries, mulberries, plums, peanuts, blueberries, bilberries, and cranberries and the roots and stalks of giant knotweed and Japanese knotweed.
Resveratrol was first isolated in 1974 and its anti inflammatory activity was recognized in 1997.

David Sinclair of the Harvard Medical School found that it increases an enzyme called SIRT1 in a subject by resetting proteins that limit the cells longevity. The mechanism of action mimics the beneficial effects of calorie restriction which activates the same SIRT1 enzyme.

The mice in the tests were fed very high doses of resveratrol - 22 milligrams per kilogram of weight per day. While a liter of red wine delivers 1.5 to 3 milligrams of resveratrol, a 70 kilogram human would need 1,540 milligrams or to drink about 250 to 500 liters of wine a day for similar results.

Sinclair claims that their proprietary formulation is 1,000 times more potent than naturally occurring resveratrol. However, the metabolic rate of humans is lower than in mice and the required dosage may be accordingly lower.

By slowing the aging process the resveratrol is claimed to prevent cancer, obesity-related disorders, increase cognitive and athletic performance, and also have antiviral and antifungal effects.

Meanwhile, as the adverse effects are not yet known, a dinner with fewer calories and a glass of red wine looks like a sensible approach.