Lab study is revealing resveratrol's unique actions on human fat cells.

A recent study published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is offering new insight on how resveratrol—a naturally occurring plant compound—affects fat cell biology. 

Scientists have been researching resveratrol’s effects on fat cells ever since a study in 2006 published in Nature showed it protects lab mice fed a high-calorie diet against weight gain and obesity. The principal hypothesis has been that resveratrol activates a gene called sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), which is also activated by calorie restriction.

The new study of University of Ulm, Germany, the first performed in vitro on human fat cells, confirms resveratrol activates Sirt1, thereby interfering with fat cell maturation, fat accumulation, and blocking secretion of inflammatory chemicals from fat cells.

Resveratrol also stimulated glucose uptake into cells and blocked glucose conversion to fat in fat cells.

The study’s findings may have large implications because obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with the World Health Organization reporting more than 1 billion people overweight and at least 300 million of them clinically obese.

More research is required to determine if reseveratrol will have similar effects on reducing bodyfat in humans. When beginning a weight management program, consultation with a healthcare professional is always advised and individual weight loss results will depend on level of activity and caloric intake.

Scientists first became interested in resveratrol after it was suggested as a potential compound in red wine responsible for the “French Paradox.” The paradox, which has puzzled medical scientists, is that people living in France have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease despite a widespread diet high in fat and regular smoking.

Source: Fischer-Posovszky P, Kukulus V, Tews D et al. Resveratrol regulates human adipocyte number and function in a Sirt1-dependent manner. Am J Clin Nutr 2010;92:5-15.