San Diego scientists have discovered how the compound resveratrol promotes cellular health, and their findings could be good news for red wine drinkers.
Resveratrol can be found in the dark grapes used to make red wine, among other foods. And previous studies have shown it can extend life in obese mice.
But researchers have disagreed on whether or not red wine packs enough resveratrol to impart any health benefit to humans.
For a study published Monday in Nature, scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla found resveratrol works by triggering a stress response, giving cells a bit of a workout and repairing DNA. Lead author Mathew Sajish said red wine could deliver enough resveratrol to trigger that response.
"My study would actually reinforce the 'French Paradox,'" Sajish said, referring to the low heart disease rate amongst the French, despite their taste for wine and high-fat food.
Sajish said it could be that, "a moderate consumption of red wine can give you protective effects in various cardiovascular diseases."
However, Sajish said drinking red wine every day would likely cancel out any health gains. And human trials are needed to better understand how resveratrol influences human health.
