STACs and Resveratrol

12-01-2015, 02:21 PM

Dan B

Bear with us, as this discussion is somewhat complex and technical. There is a notion that preventing the addition of an acetyl group, or removing an acetyl group, from the toxic molecules in KD is beneficial, because it reduces the toxicity. The process is called "deacetylation." A little background at this link: https://www.mda.org/media/pres...searcher-diane-merry

So how to promote deactylation? There is a class of enzymes in the human body called "sirtuins" and known by the abbreviations SIRT1 through SIRT7. The most important is SIRT1, and it is activated by a group of supplements known as SIRT1 Activators or STACs for short. So the hypothesis is, if you could somehow administer a STAC, it would promote the activity of the SIRT1 enzyme, and that would be neuroprotective. Got it?

So the next question is, how do you get a STAC? The nutritional substance "resveratrol" is being investigated as a potential STAC. Resveratrol is found in grape skins, red wine, and certain fruits such as mulberries. Resveratrol is also available as a nutritional supplement in health food stores.

So does all this mean you should eat grapes or drink a half-glass of red wine every day? No.

The grapes are probably safe, and so is a small amount of wine, unless you have concerns about the alcohol found in the wine.

But the absorption of resveratrol into the body is not particularly good, and studies have shown that it's better absorbed when eaten in a food rather than taken as a supplement.

Finally, and most importantly, resveratrol hasn't been studied in KD, not even in a mouse model (although it is being studied in Huntington's Disease, which is another polyglutamine disorder. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02336633

So for now, resveratrol is just another thing to be aware of. Even so, it's impressive how many ideas are being found for possible investigation against KD.

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