American women are often under the delusion that heart disease is a man’s disease.  The fact is that heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the US.  The difference is women tend to have a later onset of heart disease, but are still just as susceptible as men to poor lifestyle choices.  Poor diet, lack of regular exercise and smoking all can affect women to a greater degree than men to increase their risk of heart disease.

 
I have recently authored the book The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes for a Longer and Healthier Life, in which I address many ways to reduce poor health risk factors by improving your choices.  Specifically, I have learned about the molecule called resveratrol that is found in red grape skins, which can have very positive health benefits, especially for the heart.

Since the discovery of the cardioprotective effects of red wine in the French in the 1970’s, the major focus of both clinical interest and research has been to discover the link between this so called ‘French Paradox.’ How is it that the French can eat extremely fatty foods, yet have a much lower incidence of heart disease than in the US? Over the last 30 years much of the research has concluded that polyphenols, the organic molecules found in red wine grape skins and concentrated in wine, provided most of their cardioprotective benefits.

More recently, researchers at Harvard have shown the polyphenol, resveratrol, also in red wine grape skins, peanuts and the medicinal plant Polygonum cuspidatum, has been shown to be biologically active within human cellular and organ systems and may be the source of this protection. The exact underlying mechanisms for resveratrol’s benefits appear to center on its ability to activate longevity genes or survival genes. These genes are found in all animals, including humans, and have been shown to modulate life span in many species. This modulation occurs when diseases typically associated with aging are reduced by improved cell defense and survival in response to stressors, such as aging.

The biological effects of resveratrol also include protection of cells from lipid (cholesterol) breakdown products and reduce oxidative stress, which is responsible for inflammation and plaques on the walls of blood vessels.  Resveratrol also has anti-cancer properties and can promotion prolonged cellular lifespan.  In recent studies, researchers have verified that resveratrol can reduce heart cell death even when stressed with low levels of oxygen levels.

At present the Resveratrol supplement industry is made up of diverse products from a variety of manufacturers and producers distributed through multiple channels. Go online, and you may quickly become confused by hundreds of different claims and counterclaims.  If you decide to take a resveratrol-containing dietary supplement, the optimal product would have the following characteristics:

•    Produced in an oxygen-free, nitrogen-rich environment
•    Sealed in airtight bottles and vials
•    Stored away from heat
•    Made with trans-Resveratrol, not cis Resveratrol
•    Shown to activate sirtuin activity through professional testing
•    Produced by manufacturers who comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
•    Free from fillers and additives such as sugar, starch, gluten and artificial colors of flavors.

There are several Resveratrol-containing products that meet all of the above standards.  A few also claim to be manufactured with certified organic ingredients.  Reserveage Organics™, sold at various retail stores nationwide, and ResVitale™, sold exclusively at GNC, can both claim these attributes.  Other products are also available online, but it is often difficult to determine all these properties.  There are also several drink products such as Resveratrol Life Tonic™ that promote having over 100 bottles of wine per ounce.  Food sources, such as grapes, red wine, berries, and nuts are also important.  In my book, The Longevity Factor, I review many healthy diets and recipes containing food choices with higher levels of resveratrol and other healthy polyphenols.

In summary, resveratrol, a polyphenol, possesses diverse biochemical and physiological actions, including reduction of blood clotting and anti-inflammatory properties. Several recent studies have determined the cardioprotective abilities of resveratrol to block heart muscle injury, atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, and reduce ventricular arrhythmias.  Women should be made aware of this exciting information and be able to make the right choices for better heart health.

 
It is important to consult with you healthcare professional prior to taking any supplement if you have a medical condition, taking prescription medications, pregnant or breast-feeding.

By Dr. Joseph C. Maroon

About the author:
Joseph C. Maroon, MD, is a board-certified clinical professor of neurological surgery and Vice Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.  He is also the Heindl Scholar in Neuroscience.
 

Articles Provided by Women of Influence. The views expressed are not necessarily the views of Entercom, or Women of Influence.