Modest doses of resveratrol produce metabolic changes similar to caloric restriction

Summary: In a double-blind crossover study 140 mg per day of resveratrol improved a cluster of markers for metabolism and inflammation that corresponded to the known benefits of caloric restriction.A study published recently in the journal Cell Metabolism adds more evidence for the beneficial metabolic effects of resveratrol. The authors state:

"Resveratrol is a natural compound that affects energy metabolism and mitochondrial function and serves as a calorie restriction mimetic, at least in animal models of obesity."

They gave 150 mg/day of resveratrol alternating with placebo to eleven obese men in a randomized double-blind crossover study for 30 days. This is quite a small dose (in practice 500 mg two times per day is common). Nonetheless, the benefits were robust:

"Resveratrol significantly reduced sleeping and resting metabolic rate. In muscle, resveratrol activated AMPK, increased SIRT1 and PGC-1α protein levels, increased citrate synthase activity without change in mitochondrial content, and improved muscle mitochondrial respiration on a fatty acid-derived substrate. Furthermore, resveratrol elevated intramyocellular lipid levels and decreased intrahepatic lipid content, circulating glucose, triglycerides, alanine-aminotransferase, and inflammation markers. Systolic blood pressure dropped and HOMA index improved after resveratrol. In the postprandial state, adipose tissue lipolysis and plasma fatty acid and glycerol decreased."

In other words, there were meaningful improvements in cellular energy metabolism, liver and blood fats, blood sugar, inflammation, blood pressure and insulin sensitivity (HOMA index). These benefits are similar to those gained from restricting calories. The authors conclude:

"...we demonstrate that 30 days of resveratrol supplementation induces metabolic changes in obese humans, mimicking the effects of calorie restriction."