Red Wine Compound Could Help with Diabetes and Obesity

French scientists found an ingredient in red wine that doubles the physical endurance and helps in treating metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Although all of the studies are performed on mice, scientists report that the effects could be similar in humans as well.

The compound resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and cranberries. It activates SIRT1, an enzyme known to be involved in lifespan extension and to improve health.

The researchers found that when an SIRT1 gene was activated by resveratrol, it induced the activity of mitochondria. Mitochondria are energy factories within cells that make the cells burn more energy. Everybody knows that burning more energy is beneficial against fat accumulation and type 2 diabetes.

Patients suffering from neurodegenerative disorders could also benefit from increased mitochondrial activity.
However, drinking more wine will not get you to the therapeutic dose. A person would have to take hundreds of glasses of red wine a day to get a therapeutic dose of resveratrol.

Much more work is needed to see if studies with humans will show the same effects and benefits.