University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center conducted a research study that found resveratrol lowered blood sugar and improved insulin levels when the resveratrol was injected directly into the brains of mice fed a very high calorie diet. This finding indicates the brain plays a key role in resveratrol’s positive effect on diabetes. It also indicates the benefits could occur independently of diet and body weight.

The research study’s data gives strong evidence that the brain has a principle role in resveratrol’s positive effect on diabetes and that this positive influence could happen independently of diet or weight. If this data is correct it could lead to a brand new type 2 diabetes treatment that would target the brain. Unfortunately, red wine is not likely to improve blood sugar and insulin levels because resveratrol does not cross the blood-brain barrier very easily. Dr. Coppari, member of the research team, stated that drinking red wine is not likely to improve blood sugar. It would not be practical for anyone to drink enough red wine to get the brain to accumulate the amount of resveratrol delivered in the study. It would take many bottles of wine and that would be very unhealthy. Read the rest of this entry »