Posted on April 10, 2008 in Latest News
A compound called as ‘Resveratrol’ naturally present in grape skin can help improve diabetes, reports a new study carried out at Peninsula Medical School, England. The study was published in the science journal “Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.”
The increased levels of glucose in diabetes patients cause micro and macro vascular complications by damaging the mitochondria. Mitochondria are the tiny power plants the cells that generate energy. When these power plants are damaged they leak electrons and form highly damaging free radicals.
Complications that result out of this damage in diabetic patients are:
- Nephropathy (kidney disease)
- Heart disease
- Retinopathy which left untreated can lead to blindness
Resveratrol protects against the cellular damage to blood vessels caused due to high production of glucose in the diabetic patients. It helps the cells to form protective enzymes that prevent the production of toxic ‘free radicals’ and leakage of electrons. Ultimately it prevents the development of the above mentioned three diseases in diabetic patients.
Besides its presence in grape skin, resveratrol is also found in peanuts, seeds and red wine.
“Resveratrol’s antioxidant effects in the test tube are well documented but our research shows the link between high levels of glucose, its damaging effect on cell structure, and the ability of resveratrol of protect against and mend that damage,” said Dr. Matt Whiteman, Principal Investigator and Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Peninsula Medical School.
Adding to it he said: “Resveratrol or related compounds could be used to block the damaging effect of glucose which in turn might fight the often life threatening complications that accompany diabetes. It could well be the basis of effective diet-based therapies for the prevention of vascular damage caused by hyperglycaemia in the future.”
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