Longevity, calorie restriction, and red wine. From Scientific American.

[drm604]

I originally posted this in the science forum, but I think it's also appropriate here.

There's a link to the article at the bottom of this post. I found it difficult to find four paragraphs that gave a good understandable synopsis, so I'll try to summarize it in my own words.

It has for some time been accepted knowledge in the scientific community that "calorie restriction" can extend the lifespan of organisms 30% to 50%. This is done by reducing caloric intake 30% to 40% while supplementing to make sure that other nutritional needs (vitamins, etc.) are met. The youthful part of the lifespan is also increased and diseases such as diabetes and cancer are forestalled.

This has been repeatedly shown experimentally to work in yeast, roundworms, mice, rats, and dogs. It therefore appears to be based on some fundamental mechanism that is likely shared by all multicellular organisms. A drawback is that it interferes with the reproductive process. And, in humans, that kind of drastic calorie restriction would most likely be intolerable.

It has been discovered that calorie restriction activates molecules known as sirtuins. Experiments have shown that these molecules are almost certainly what cause the extension of life and youthfulness.

Sirtuins can be activated by means other than calorie restriction. A substance found in red wine, resveratrol, activates sirtuins. Animals fed sufficient resveratrol (but not calorie restricted) experience the same life extension effects as calorie restricted animals but without the reproductive problems.

So, is this life extension in a pill?

http://sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=000B73EB-3380-13F6-B38083414B7F0000&pageNumber=1&catID=2

The original thread is here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=228x18690

[BOSSHOG]

1. I wonder if this applies to fasting ?

One may reduce their total caloric intake by 30% in a period of time (lets say a month) by fasting or eating lightly during the week but pigging out on weekends. "Supplementing" to ensure one gets vitamins? Information is so confusing. I read that the best way to get vitamins was through the food you pick, vitamins, vegetables etc. I do like the idea of using wine vice restriciting. Five years from now a study will come out warning of the dangers of Sirtuins.

Thanks for the post.

[drm604]

2. Caloric Restriction.

The caloric restriction they're talking about is quite drastic. As I understand it, it's pretty much being constantly on the verge of starvation. It's a totally unnatural state where you appear emaciated and need to be careful about getting necessary nutrients. I'm sure there's plenty of info about it on the web searchable with Google.

Using wine probably isn't a good idea because of the deleterious affects from drinking the amount necessary. Resveratrol supplements would probably be better but I'm not sure if any of the ones currently on the market are safe and effective.

Have you read the SciAm article? It's very interesting and their research does seem to indicate that stimulation of surtuin production is healthy. Not everything is reversed in five years.

[BootinUp]

5. They also speculate

that fat stores play a role.

[undergroundpanther]

3. This help will only be avaliable to the rich

Not to ordinary people. If we want to live longer we starve.
I wonder if the government who protects fast food companies ,soft drink companies and people selling bad beef,if they just want to feed us keep us complacent until we die off.

[BootinUp]

4. fascinating article

I always find genetic science exciting.

[RedOnce]

6. I ignored this when it was 1st posted because...

I was aware that calorie restriction extended life span, and I recently posted something about resveratrol extending the life span of fish.

But it never occurred to me that they were connected!

Sirtuins can be activated by means other than calorie restriction. A substance found in red wine, resveratrol, activates sirtuins.