Resveratrol improves mitochondrial function and protects against metabolic disease by activating SIRT1 and PGC-1alpha.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Preclinical animal and cellular experiments with human genetic association analysis
PubMed 17112576 · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2006.11.013
What was done
Mice were treated with resveratrol to evaluate effects on aerobic capacity (running time and muscle fiber oxygen consumption), oxidative phosphorylation gene expression, mitochondrial biogenesis, and protection against diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. The molecular mechanism involving PGC-1alpha acetylation was evaluated in vitro, including in SIRT1-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. In addition, associations between three Sirt1 single nucleotide polymorphisms and energy homeostasis were assessed in Finnish subjects.
What was found
The abstract reports directional outcomes without numerical data or effect sizes. Resveratrol treatment significantly increased running time and muscle fiber oxygen consumption in mice, induced oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial biogenesis genes, decreased PGC-1alpha acetylation, and increased PGC-1alpha activity. Resveratrol had no effect in SIRT1-null cells. Resveratrol protected mice against diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance, and three Sirt1 SNPs were associated with energy homeostasis in human subjects.
Why it matters
This study establishes SIRT1 and PGC-1alpha activation as a key molecular pathway by which resveratrol enhances mitochondrial capacity and metabolic protection in animal models.
Limits
No quantitative effect sizes, dosages, or sample sizes (for mice, cell lines, or human subjects) are provided in the abstract. Interventional findings are limited to rodent and cellular models, and the human data are restricted to observational genetic associations.
Cited by
- supports Resveratrol activates the sirtuin response and helps build mitochondria.