Low dose red wine in mice fights diabetes

Even relatively low doses of resveratrol, a chemical found in the skins of red grapes and in red wine, can improve the sensitivity of mice to the hormone insulin, according to a report in the October issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication. As insulin resistance is often characterized as the most critical factor contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes, the findings provide a potential new therapeutic approach for preventing or treating both conditions, said the researchers in Shanghai, who we supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

The research group also confirmed that increased levels of an enzyme called SIRT1, which earlier studies had linked to longevity, DNA repair and insulin secretion, improve insulin sensitivity in mice. Resveratrol is known to activate the SIRT1 enzyme.

The results suggest that red wine might have some benefits for insulin sensitivity, but it needs to be confirmed by further investigation, said Qiwei Zhai of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Given the potential complications of drinking alcohol, an even better option may be to find other natural foods enriched with resveratrol or foods supplemented with resveratrol, he added, noting that the chemical is also an active ingredient in other plants, including one called Polygonum cuspidatum used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine.