It has previously been shown that resveratrol improves diabetes when delivered orally to rodents, but little has been known about how these beneficial changes are mediated in the body.

A study now shows that the brain plays a key role in mediating resveratrol's anti-diabetic actions, potentially paving the way for future orally-delivered diabetes treatments that target the brain.

Resveratrol is a polyphenol antioxidant found in red grape skins and red wine, and is also available as a supplement.

Image: Resveratrol molecules.

Resveratrol is the most potent natural compound able to activate sirtuins, a class of proteins that are thought to underlie many of the beneficial effects of calorie restriction. Previous studies in mice have provided compelling evidence that when sirtuins are activated by resveratrol, diabetes is improved. Sirtuin activators are now being tested in humans as compounds for diabetes treatment.

Sirtuins are expressed virtually everywhere throughout the body and until now, little has been known about what tissues mediate resveratrol's beneficial effects. Knowing where in the body the beneficial effects of activated sirtuins are mediated could help in the development of more effective targeted diabetes treatments.

Sirtuins are expressed in parts of the brain known to govern glucose metabolism, so the researchers hypothesized that the brain could be mediating resveratrol's anti-diabetic actions. To test the hypothesis, they assessed the metabolic consequences of delivering resveratrol directly into the brain of mice with diabetes. They found that resveratrol did activate sirtuins in the brain of the diabetic mice which resulted in improving their high levels of blood sugar and insulin.

"These findings may lead to new strategies in the fight against type 2 diabetes," said Roberto Coppari, co-author of the study.
References:
1. Roberto Coppari, et al. Central administration of resveratrol improves diet-induced diabetes. Endocrinology. The Endocrine Society.