Resveratrol has demonstrated potential for metabolic disease intervention in a variety of ways, which are analyzed below in terms of its mechanism of action, research evidence, and potential issues:
Mechanism of action
Regulation of energy metabolism: Resveratrol can act on mitochondria, increase their activity, enhance the efficiency of cellular uptake and utilization of glucose and fatty acids, and accelerate the process of energy consumption, which can help to maintain a normal body weight and prevent obesity due to excessive energy intake and insufficient consumption.
Activation of related enzymes and pathways: Resveratrol can activate a series of intracellular reactions, indirectly activating sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), which plays an important role in metabolic regulation, and affects the activity of metabolic sensors, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which improves metabolic abnormalities.
Regulation of hormone levels: Hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) plays an important role in metabolic regulation, and resveratrol requires hepatic FGF21 to exert its metabolic beneficial effects. resveratrol intervention in a metabolic disease model can regulate the level and sensitivity of FGF21 and ameliorate metabolic disorders.
Research evidence
Improved insulin sensitivity and glycemic control: Resveratrol improves insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, and lipid profile in people who are obese or have metabolic abnormalities. It reduces fasting blood glucose and insulin concentrations, improves glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and blood pressure.
Regulation of lipid metabolism: Resveratrol has a positive effect on lipid metabolism in metabolic disorders, improves the lipid profile, reduces circulating lipid levels, reduces the accumulation of fat in the liver and other organs, and helps to prevent and treat diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver.
Preventive and therapeutic models of metabolic diseases: In animal models such as mice, resveratrol intervention shows preventive and therapeutic effects on metabolic diseases. For example, in a high-fat diet-induced obese mouse model, resveratrol was able to reduce weight gain, improve insulin resistance, and lower blood lipid levels.
Potential Problems
Low bioavailability: When resveratrol is taken orally, although there is evidence that its bioavailability is relatively low because it is rapidly metabolized and excreted from the body. This limits its effective concentration in the body and may affect its therapeutic efficacy.
Inconsistent results from clinical studies: recent systematic evaluations and meta-analyses have questioned the positive effects of resveratrol in metabolic health. Some studies have suggested that the so-called “sirtuin-activating” effects of resveratrol may be the product of in vitro experimental methods, that it is difficult to replicate similar longevity benefits in multicellular organisms, and that there is insufficient clinical evidence to support its metabolic health-enhancing effects.