Resveratrol & SIRT1

It has been already established in medical science that genes control almost every aspect of human physiology. Interestingly, this even applies to the longevity and aging process on the cellular level which in turn affects the lifespan and aging of the individual. One of the genes that may be associated with cellular longevity and ability to slow down the aging process is a gene called Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1).

SIRT1 gene encodes enzymes that control cellular longevity and reaction to stressors. The exciting news is that there are possible ways to activate the SIRT1 gene thus increasing longevity and lifespan of cells, or to put it in simpler words, delay the aging process.

Resveratrol has been shown in several studies to activate SIRT1 gene homologues in yeast and animal cells, significantly increasing their lifespan. The exciting news was first reported in 2003 in “Nature”, one of the most reputable peer reviewed scientific journals. This report which found that Resveratrol significantly increased the lifespan of yeast cells was then followed by other reports with similar findings in worms, fruit flies and fish.

Conducting similar studies on human cells would obviously be more encouraging and relevant but unfortunately is much harder to achieve for many reasons. However, human cells are very similar in structure and function to other cell types, and therefore, a similar reaction towards Resveratrol is very possible.

For all of those reasons, Resveratrol is being marketed as an anti-aging supplement among its other healthy effects.

It may take years to reach a definite conclusion on whether Resveratrol actually increases the longevity of human cells and delays the aging process because of the complexity of this kind of research, but it should be kept in mind that anti-aging is only one of the many well documented potential health benefits that Resveratrol provides.