Comprehensive Library Of Resveratrol News

Researchers in Berlin, Germany claim the blockage of an immune system transmitter may prevent symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease by reduction of brain plaque known as beta amyloid and suggest Alzheimer’s sufferers wait while they test an existing FDA-approved drug that may even reverse existing disease.  A research study published in Nature Medicine says blockade of a gene target known as p40 was found to reduce beta amyloid brain plaque by 65% in laboratory mice. Striking hemispheric images of the brain of mice are presented at Science Daily to demonstrate the potential beneficial effect of p40 blockade.

The existing p40-blocking drug, Stelar (ustekinumab), is a monoclonal-antibody that seeks out the cell receptor for p40 and blocks accessibility of immune system activators known as interleukins.  It is currently used to treat psoriasis, a chronic skin condition.

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Researchers in Italy analyzed 14 brands of resveratrol pills and found only 5 that met their labeled value for dosage.  The brands were not identified.

The difference between the labeled and actual dose may be attributed to degradation of the molecule.  The active form of this molecule (trans resveratrol), degrades to its less active form (cis resveratrol) upon exposure to light.  Heat and oxygen (oxidation) can also degrade resveratrol.  Light exposure actually “isomerizes” resveratrol into a different molecule — trans to cis.

Indeed, the researchers tested for cis resveratrol and found it was prevalent in many of the mislabeled brands, which suggests the product may have been exposed to environmental factors during extraction from a botanical source, during manufacturing, or possibly during shipping of shelf storage.

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