Inflammation

Resveratrol Protects Against Harmful Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s natural process of responding to infections, injury, and foreign substances (such as viruses and bacteria).  When operating properly, the body releases inflammatory chemicals into infected, injured, or invaded area(s) which, in turn, increases blood flow (and accordingly the presence of white blood cells) in the area(s).  The inflammatory chemicals and white blood cells then fight the infection, injury, or foreign substance.  In short, without inflammation our bodies would never heal. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, occurs when inflammatory response continues to produce inflammatory chemicals even though they are not needed.  In essence, the inflammatory chemicals attack healthy tissues of the body which may lead to many diseases including:

    * Alzheimer’s Disease
    * Arthritis
    * Asthma
    * Atherosclerosis (a condition where fatty deposits build up in the lining of arteries thereby increasing the risk of stroke or heart attack)
    * Bursitis
    * Cancer
    * Heart Disease
    * Stomach Ulcers

Resveratrol has been found to protect humans from inflammation at a dose of 40 mg. (taken orally in dietary supplement form) per day. 

Resveratrol has also been shown to protect animals from chronic inflammation in several studies.

    * In one study, researchers administered an inflammatory agent to two groups of mice - but only one of the groups was pretreated with resveratrol.  While the mice that were pretreated with resveratrol were protected from chronic inflammation, the group not pretreated experienced a strong inflammatory response.
    * In another study resveratrol reduced inflammation on the brains of mice who ate high calorie diets.