Washington, Oct 03: According to a new finding, low doses of red wine ingredient resveratrol can help improve the sensitivity of mice to insulin.

It was found that relatively low doses of resveratrol, a chemical found in the skins of red grapes and in red wine that can also activate the SIRT1 enzyme, earlier linked to longevity, DNA repair, and insulin secretion.

Resveratrol is known to activate the SIRT1 enzyme.

The Shanghai researchers said that the findings “provide a potential new therapeutic approach for preventing or treating” both conditions, as insulin resistance is often characterized as the most critical factor contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes.

“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.

Taking the potential complications of drinking alcohol into consideration, “an even better option may be to find other natural foods enriched with resveratrol or foods supplemented with resveratrol,” he added.

Now, the researchers report that SIRT1 levels are reduced in insulin-resistant cells and tissues, and that treatments that block the enzyme’s function lead to insulin resistance.

Furthermore it was reported that increased SIRT1 activity improved insulin sensitivity.

Similarly, the researchers showed that resveratrol at a dose of just 2.5 mg/kg/day enhanced insulin sensitivity in cells. That low dose of resveratrol also reduced insulin resistance in animals fed a high-fat diet.

“We found SIRT1 improves insulin sensitivity, especially under insulin-resistant conditions. Furthermore, we found that resveratrol, at a very low dose compared with many previous studies, improves insulin sensitivity via SIRT1.” Zhai said.

“According to our findings, people might need to drink about three litres of red wine each day to get sufficient resveratrol, about 15 mg for its biological effects,” he added.

The report is issued in Cell Metabolism. (ANI)