Resveratrol (available here as Res-Vis-Atrol), is a chemical found in grapes and other fruits.
Resveratrol is a member of a large group of naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds called flavonols or flavonoids. These compounds are some of the strongest antioxidants known and provide much of the color we see around us in the natural world particularly the blues, reds, purples and violets.
New research by Anna T. Palamara and colleagues at the University of Rome, published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, has shown resveratrol to inhibit the reproduction of influenza viruses in cell culture and in mice by blocking host-cell functions that are essential for viral replication rather than attacking the virus itself. Quoting the researchers, "Resveratrol acts by inhibiting a cellular, rather than a viral, function" and due to this they went on to say "resveratrol could be a particularly valuable anti-influenza drug."
Resveratrol was also shown to significantly improve survival and decrease pulmonary viral titers in influenza virus–infected mice. No toxic effects were observed in either the cell cultures or with the mice.
In cell-culture experiments, treatment with resveratrol was shown to reduce flu virus replication by up to 90% without damage to the cells.
Treating cell cultures early after infection (3 hours after infection) resulted in an 87.5% reduction in viral growth. However, if treatment began 9 hours or greater after infection, resveratrol treatment had no significant benefit. Researchers concluded from these findings that resveratrol interferes with the manufacture of proteins made late in the viral replication process and limits the transport of viral ribonucleoproteins from the cell nucleus to the cytoplasm.
The authors also determined that the molecular mechanism for resveratrol's effects has to do with the inhibition of protein kinase C activity and its dependent pathways. In the tests on mice, the researchers found that resveratrol treatment increased survival by 40% in treated mice. Further, the level of virus found in the lungs of the treated mice 6 days after infection was 98% lower than in the placebo treated group.
According to Dr. Palamara's team, resveratrol's ability to block host-cell functions needed by flu viruses to replicate, gives resveratrol an advantage over other existing anti-flu drugs. Resveratrol would be less likely to induce resistance by flu viruses and would be more likely to be effective for all types and strains of flu virus. The research team therefore concuded, "For these reasons, resveratrol merits further investigation as a potential weapon for combating the growing threat of influenza."
Commentary
Resveratrol is an antioxidant that is found in at least 72 plant species. It is known to help protect the heart and nervous system and help prevent cancer. It also has strong anti-aging effects on cells via its antioxidant activity. Its common concentration in red wine is 1.5-3.0 mg/L. The higher concentrations are found in those wines produced in the traditional or "old world style" where stems and seeds are included in the press. Although drinking red wine is a wonderful way to get your dose of resveratrol, the alcohol component can undermine its benefits when trying to fight the flu or prevent some cancers such as breast cancer.
According to Dr. Palamara's team, resveratrol's ability to block host-cell functions needed by flu viruses to replicate, gives resveratrol an advantage over other existing anti-flu drugs. Resveratrol would be less likely to induce resistance by flu viruses and would be more likely to be effective for all types and strains of flu virus. The research team therefore concuded, "For these reasons, resveratrol merits further investigation as a potential weapon for combating the growing threat of influenza."
Commentary
Resveratrol is an antioxidant that is found in at least 72 plant species. It is known to help protect the heart and nervous system and help prevent cancer. It also has strong anti-aging effects on cells via its antioxidant activity. Its common concentration in red wine is 1.5-3.0 mg/L. The higher concentrations are found in those wines produced in the traditional or "old world style" where stems and seeds are included in the press. Although drinking red wine is a wonderful way to get your dose of resveratrol, the alcohol component can undermine its benefits when trying to fight the flu or prevent some cancers such as breast cancer.
Therefore, we suggest supplementing with a pharmaceutical-grade, standardized concentrate of resveratrol on a daily basis throughout the flu season at levels that can successfully ward off infection and/or reduce infective symptoms and pathology. This should be an integral part of your flu treatment and prevention in concert with standard and conventional therapies prescribed by your health care provider.
An additional note from Dr. Patrick Donovan of TheDispensaryOnline:
As a Naturopathic Physician, I find the most interesting aspect demonstrated by this research article is the value realized by stimulating host defense mechanisms over just trying to "kill the virus." There are two aspects to the infection equation: the strength of the infective agent (virility and dose) and the level of host resistance. If the level of host resistance is greater than the strength of the infective agent, the morbidity and mortality of the host is significantly reduced and/or prevented. This is the foundation of naturopathic medicine. It is the typical naturopathic approach to all illness i.e., optimize host resistance and vitality... optimize your health.
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There's More to Learn About Resveratrol
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Of further interest is the effect choline-stablized orthosilicic acid has on bone density. In a one year randomized, double-blind study of 136 women receiving either daily doses of choline-stablized orthosilicic acid along with vitamin D3 and calcium or vitamin D3 and calcium alone, the combined therapy of choline-stablized orthosilicic acid with vitamin D3 and calcium had a beneficial effect on bone collagen (strengthening bone and making it more resistant to fracture) that was not seen in the vitamin D3 and calcium group alone. The authors of the study concluded that, "this treatment is of potentail use in osteoporosis."
Dr. Donovan is a Naturopathic Physician, author, educator, and a professor of clinical medicine at Bastyr University's Natural Health Clinic. In 2010 he was voted by his professional peers as one of Seattle’s Top Doctors in the Seattle Metropolitan Magazine. Dr. Donovan writes and lectures on the transformational process of healing and believes a person’s healing journey is ultimately a quest for his/her identity, purpose and meaning. He has more than 35 years of patient care experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) and a Naturopathic Physician (ND), representing a wide range of clinical settings from hospital-based surgical and intensive care as a registered nurse to outpatient primary care as a physician.