Should You Use Resveratrol Supplements for Diabetes?
Resveratrol supplements for diabetes have gained popularity recently, after it was discovered that resveratrol can have positive effects on a myriad of conditions, from cancer to cardiovascular diseases. Resveratrol research has shown it to be effective in lowering blood glucose, by regulating insulin sensitivity in patients that present resistance to this hormone.
Resveratrol is a phytoalexin, a type of antibiotic, produced by certain plans when under attack by bacteria or fungi. Certain studies have shown resveratrol to have beneficial anticancer, anti-inflammatory, blood sugar lowering, and other cardiovascular effects. Resveratrol can also be found in the skin of red grapes, which may provide an explanation to the French paradox.
Research has shown that even low doses of resveratrol may be able to improve sensitivity to insulin, which could provide a new form of therapy for diabetes. Insulin resistance is one of the most important factors that contributes to the development of type II diabetes. An enzyme known as SIRT1 has been linked to longevity, DNA repair, and insulin secretion, and it appears that resveratrol activates this enzyme. Thus, in the presence of resveratrol enzyme levels in the body increase and regulate insulin sensitivity thus helping to prevent the onset of diabetes, as well as in its treatment.
Type II diabetes accounts for more than 90% of diabetes cases, and the main treatment option for this type of diabetes is still by alleviating insulin resistance. The role of insulin is to lower blood glucose levels by permitting the absorption of sugar into skeletal muscle and fat tissue, as well as by preventing the production of glucose in the liver.
The link between the SIRT1 enzyme and diabetes is quite recent, but it has been noted that the levels of these enzymes in cells that are insulin resistant are much lower. It has also been shown that increased levels of this enzyme improve insulin sensitivity, and resveratrol, in minimal quantities, can have this effect.
Even though this compound occurs naturally in foods, as well as wine, it is not possible to obtain the required daily dosage of resveratrol from these alone, because one would have to drink approximately 3 litres of wine per day to reach the recommended 15 mg dose. This, obviously, is not a practical solution. Therefore, the viable option is to take it in tablet form, as in resveratrol supplements for diabetes.
The benefits of resveratrol supplements for diabetes are not only confined to treating insulin resistance, as they have also been shown to have an effect on cancerous cells, as well as possibly having an effect on longevity. It seems that resveratrol aids in the preservation of normal cell cycle regulation, as mutations in cell cycles lead to the development of cancer.
Most commercially available supplements contain resveratrol that has been extracted from Japanese knotweed, due to higher concentrations of resveratrol, as well as its year-round growth and capacity to adapt to various climates.