Resveratrol for Diabetes?

From Geriatric Pharmacy Intern, Dana Ross Pharm.D.(c)
Palm Beach Atlantic University College of Pharmacy

Researchers have found a possible treatment for diabetes in a substance of red grapes called resveratrol. A future study of Endocrinology, a medical journal, looked at resveratrol’s effect on diabetes. The research shows that resveratrol has anti-diabetic effects and evidence has shown the brain is responsible for mediation of these effects. Resveratrol is believed to work by activating proteins called sirtuins, which are thought to house the benefits seen with calorie restriction. Studies have shown beneficial effects on diabetes in mice when resveratrol activated sirtuins.

Sirtuins are ubiquitous in the body, found everywhere, but now evidence has shown benefits being mediated in the brain. With these findings comes a hope of targeted treatment in diabetes medications. The proteins, sirtuins, have shown expression in areas of the brain where glucose metabolism is mediated.

The study looked at mice with diabetes. The investigators directed resveratrol to the brain and saw improvement in high glucose, blood sugar, levels and improving insulin levels. Study investigators believe these findings could lead us to new treatments against type-2 diabetes. With this growing epidemic of type-2 diabetes and related disease, these are exciting findings for future medications that can target new areas of disease progression.