Scientists claim that a chemical found in red wine could be used to treat diabetes, dementia and heart disease. Resveratrol is known to be able to prolong the lifespan and mimic the effects of a low calorie diet, but it was unclear how the chemical causes the boost of energy in cells to provide this health benefit.

In the latest research, scientists were able to discover how it can work to keep us healthy. Researchers have demonstrated how it can trick cells into increasing the production of enegery-creating proteins.

The researchers said that the discovery could lead to new treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease and diabetes, using either resveratrol or stronger agents that work in the same way.

Dr Andrew Murray, of Cambridge University, said: “Although you can get resveratrol from red wine, you would need to drink about 700 bottles to get a meaningful dose. This study is important because the effects of resveratrol on the cell were identifies, so that more potent drugs could be developed to mimic it’s effects.”

Written exclusively for The Life Dept | Live Longer | 3 February 2012

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