Scientific Bio-Logics’ Resveratrol offers two of nature’s most powerful antioxidants: Resveratrol and Quercetin, combined with the absorption enhancing compound from black pepper extract called Piperine. Studies have shown that piperine improves the bioavailability of resveratrol in the body.

Plants are exposed to environmental stresses such as: ultraviolet radiation, infections from microorganisms, climate, and physical injury similar to other animals on the planet. In response to such stresses, plants produce an array of secondary compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids and alkaloids to prevent these stresses from causing permanent harm to the plant. When these compounds produced by plants are consumed by humans they can elicit powerful antioxidant, immune modulating, and anti-microbial effects on the body. Humans are constantly being bombarded with highly reactive free radical molecules that can cause damage to cells in the body. Therefore, a diet high in nutrients that have antioxidant properties will provide enhanced protection against such molecules.

Resveratrol is a polyphenol compound that is found in red wine, grapes, peanuts, blueberries, and a variety of other plants. Researchers grew interested in this compound when it was found to be present in red wine. It was observed that people in France have a 20-30% lower rate of coronary heart disease compared to other countries but consume a high amount of saturated fats and have a high percentage of their population who smoke cigarettes. This phenomenon was later coined as the “French Paradox”. Coronary heart disease is triggered by oxidation of lipids and cholesterol that eventually get lodged under the epithelial cells of blood vessels and arteries. This will ultimately create an inflammatory response that could lead to rupturing of the arterial wall and subsequent blood clot formation to close up the rupture. Blood clots around the arterial wall may cause narrowing or complete blockage of the blood vessel which can drastically impede blood flow to vital organs such as the heart. In-vitro and animal model studies have demonstrated resveratrol’s wide range of therapeutic benefits for the cardiovascular system including regulation of inflammatory enzymes, antioxidant activity, and promotion of vasodilation.

Quercetin is a flavonoid like molecule that is also produced in red wine, as well as apples, cherries, green tea, several types of berries, and a variety of medicinal plants. Quercetin is well known for its ability to regulate the inflammatory response in the body and for its potent antioxidant properties. Scientific Bio- Logics’ Resveratrol has combined these two powerful ingredients in order to enhance their synergistic effects on the body. Preliminary studies have shown that the combination of resveratrol with quercetin enhances their anti-carcinogenic potential.

Oral administration of resveratrol has been shown to be highly absorbed into the blood stream after ingestion but unfortunately has very low bioavailability because it is rapidly metabolized to its resveratrol metabolite form by a process called glucuronidation. These resveratrol metabolites have a very short life span and are rapidly excreted from the body. To enhance the bioavailability of resveratrol, Scientific Bio-Logics has added Piperine to their formula. Animal model study demonstrated that oral administration of resveratrol along with Piperine was able to extend the bioavailability of resveratrol by over 200% which was attributed to the reduced rate of glucuronidation. [1.]

Researchers have been interested in finding the mechanism behind the French Paradox since rates of Cardiovascular and Metabolic diseases, such as Type II Diabetes, are heavily increasing within industrialized countries. The French consume a large amount of Red Wine that contains the polyphenol compound Resveratrol, which seems to lower their incidence of cardiovascular disease despite having diets that are high in saturated fats.

Animal model studies show that resveratrol has an effect on a family of enzymes called Surtuins (Sir2). These enzymes, also known as NAD+ dependent deacetylases, are involved in the regulation of glucose and fat metabolism, insulin production, and cell proliferation and survival. It has been known for quite some time that consuming a restricted caloric diet can decrease the progression of age related cardiovascular and metabolic diseases as well as help promote normal cell growth. Both a caloric restricted diet and frequent consumption of Resveratrol polyphenols from red wine seem to elicit similar physiological responses that are regulated by the activity of the Surtuin enzymes.

One such study demonstrated the effects of Resveratrol consumption on mice that were fed a high caloric diet verses mice that were either fed a normal diet or a high caloric diet that did not include Resveratrol [2]. Findings demonstrated that mice fed a high caloric diet that included Resveratrol had increased rates of survival, improved glucose and insulin sensitivity, and decreased development of fatty liver syndrome compared to mice fed a high caloric diet without Resveratrol [2]. Although more studies need to be done on resveratrol and the various mechanisms in which it can affect enzyme activity in the body these preliminary studies suggest evidence that Resveratrol can positively affect physiological processes that improve overall health and may reduce the progression of metabolic diseases.

References

1.Johnson JJ, Nihal M, Siddiqui IA, Scarlett CO, Bailey HH, Mukhtar H, Ahmad N. Enhancing the bioavailability of resveratrol by combining it with piperine. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2011 Aug; 55(8):1169-76. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201100117.

2.Baur JA, Pearson KJ, Price NL, Jamieson HA, Lerin C, Kalra A, Prabhu VV, Allard JS, Lopez-Lluch G, Lewis K, Pistell PJ, Poosala S, Becker KG, Boss O, Gwinn D, Wang M, Ramaswamy S, Fishbein KW, Spencer RG, Lakatta EG, Le Couteur D, Shaw RJ, Navas P, Puigserver P, Ingram DK, de Cabo R, Sinclair DA. Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet. Nature. 2006 Nov 16;444(7117):337-42.

Helps reduce oxidative damage, modulates the inflammatory process and accelerates the rate of tissue repair.