Resveratrol, Red Wine Support Brain and Kidney Health

VRP Staff

Two recent studies address the effects of resveratrol or red wine on the brain and kidneys, indicating that both the red-wine derived component and red-wine itself may protect neurons in the brain while offering other beneficial effects.

In the first study, researchers determined if resveratrol, a red-wine derived anti-inflammatory component, could reduce the neuronal loss that occurs after ischemia (the blockage of blood flow to the heart or brain). Researchers divided 60 adult male rats that had undergone general anesthesia into three groups. On one group researchers performed a sham operation, on another group they induced cerebral ischemia, and on another group they induced cerebral ischemia and administered resveratrol.

During cerebral ischemia, free radical levels were elevated in rats and the animals displayed severe neuronal loss. A single dose of resveratrol, however, significantly decreased the free radical level. At the same time, resveratrol appeared to increase cerebral blood flow and decrease neuronal loss.

In the second study, researchers investigated red wine’s effect on free-radical-induced stress in the brain and kidney triggered by a cholesterol-enriched diet. In the 4-week rodent study, the scientists supplemented the animals’ high-cholesterol diet with red wine.

The results indicated that total cholesterol and lipid peroxidation products in the brain, kidney and red blood cells significantly decreased in rats fed the high-cholesterol diet along with red wine. In addition, levels of the important antioxidant glutathione as well as antioxidant enzyme levels increased in the animals given red wine. Furthermore, signs of kidney impairment, such as increased urinary excretion of creatinine and albumin, decreased significantly in the group consuming red wine.

According to the researchers, the results suggest that red wine may protect the kidneys as well as neurons in the brain against oxidative stress and high cholesterol.

References:
Lu KT, Chlou RY, Chen LG, Chen MH, Tseng WT, Hsieh HT, Yang YL. Neuroprotective effects of resveratrol on cerebral ischemia-induced neuron loss mediated by free radical scavenging and cerebral blood flow elevation. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Apr 19;54(8):3126-31.

Montilla P, Espejo I, Munoz MC, Bujalance I, Munoz-Castaneda JR, Tunez Protective effect of red wine on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities in the brain and kidney induced by feeding high cholesterol in rats. I.Clin Nutr. 2006 Feb;25(1):146-53. Epub 2005 Nov 16.