Resveratrol strongly protects the pancreas

Rats were supplemented with or without Resveratrol for 8 days, then thay all had the oxidizing chemical, tertbutyl hydroperoxide injected into their pancreatic area. The chemical is highly irritating and causes acute pancreatitis. In the rats not given Resveratrol, there was swelling of the pancreas due to a build up of localized liquid and inflammation, death and destruction of pancreatic cells (necrosis), a build up of inflamed pockets, swollen and destroyed pancreatic mitochondria and other forms of cellular damage. In the rats pretreated with Resveratrol there was much less damage to the pancreas. The study appears in the July 2005 issue of the journal Pancreas.

Johns Hopkins researchers say that Resveratrol protects the brain and cardiovascular system in a number of ways

Recently, evidence suggests that Resveratrol influences genes and proteins in a way that keeps cells, tissues and organs healthy. This helps explain why Resveratrol is so much more than an antioxidant. Resveratrols influence on genes explains how it helps protect blood flow and circulation, how it protects cells, and helps improve inflammation while protecting organs.

Heme oxygenase is a cell protecting enzyme that degrades heme ( a powerful oxidizing free radical) into carbon monoxide (a vasodilating neurotransmitter that is anti-inflammatory), bilirubin (another antioxidant), and iron. An absence of heme oxygenase leads to acceleration of hardening of the arteries and increased risk of damage to the heart, kidneys, and cardiovascular system in general. Heme oxygenase helps decrease the risk of high blood pressure, kidney damage, and damage to the heart muscle during a heart attack. As it turns out, one of the ways that Resveratrol protects us is by stimulating genes that improve heme oxygenase levels. These researchers feel this additionally is a way that Resveratrol protects the brain and decreases the risk of developing a stroke, ALS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and a variety of age-related vascular, heart, and brain disorders. the review was performed at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, and is published in the January-April issue of the journal Neurosignals.