Still, Burant and others caution that it's too soon to tell how well the drug will work in humans, whose metabolism drastically differs from that of rodents. Sirtris is also testing a resveratrol-like compound in clinical trials for treating diabetes, with initial results expected later this year or early next year. Both Sinclair and Westphal have high hopes for the drugs, in part because they appear to mimic the effects of caloric restriction, which has been shown to delay or slow the progression of a variety of age-related diseases. So the novel SIRT1 activators might have the potential to treat illnesses ranging from Alzheimer's disease to heart disease to cancer. "The big news here is that maybe all big diseases of aging fall into the same category and can be treated with sirtuin activators," says Leonard Guarente, an MIT biologist whose lab discovered the first sirtuin gene. Guarente recently joined Sirtris's advisory board. Initial studies suggest that activating SIRT1 can slow neurodegeneration, and tests of the compounds' impact on animal models of different diseases are ongoing. However, many questions remain to be answered. While Sinclair and Guarente argue that the new findings support the idea that sirtuins lie at the heart of caloric restriction's health and longevity benefits, not everyone agrees. And the issue that has garnered the most media attention--whether or not such compounds will provide a molecular fountain of youth--is still unclear. While the diabetes research is promising, says Burant, "the life-extension part of this story is still incomplete." In fact, that question may remain open for a few more years. Sinclair's team is testing the compounds' effect on life span, "but we may know if they can treat a disease in humans before we know if mice live longer," he says. |
Healthier Aging
07/03/2008


Comments
jsstubbs on 11/28/2007 at 3:15 PM
2
posttoasties on 11/29/2007 at 11:17 AM
1
The Sirtis compounds are NOT Resveratrol at all. They are other activators that stimulate Sirtuins to a far greater degree than Resveratrol will ever be able to achieve on its own.
The other problem with buying off-the-shelf Resveratrol is that it is a non-regulated "supplement". You don't know how much of the compound you're purchasing from any of the hippy-dippy vitamin manufacturers, no matter what the label says. Resveratrol is especially vulnerable to oxidation, so it is difficult if impossible to know if what you're buying is even bio-available.
Give me an FDA-approved Sirt1 stimulator, please! If it from Guarente's lab it will be the real deal.
jsstubbs on 11/30/2007 at 12:07 AM
2
rlindsl on 11/30/2007 at 12:09 AM
9
drs on 06/05/2008 at 12:35 PM
1
MolBioGurl on 07/21/2008 at 12:41 PM
1
1. Margie T. Borra, Brian C. Smith, and John M. Denu. "Mechanism of Human SIRT1 Activation by Resveratrol"
The Journal Of Biological Chemistry Vol. 280, No. 17, April 29, pp. 17187–17195, 2005
bioinvestigator on 11/29/2007 at 4:35 PM
1
davtho66 on 11/29/2007 at 6:17 PM
1
and was having trouble sleeping. I asked him how it was working out and he said that he was taking a type of resveratrol called biotivia transmax and that after two weeks the results were subtle but undeniable. He said that he had more energy during the day, was more alert throughout the day and was sleeping less but waking up more refreshed. So based on his experience I decided to give it a try. I have had similiar results after just one week. It is only recently that I have heard about it anti-aging benefits.
There is something to this resveratrol, I have no idea if I will live longer but I can tell you that I am living better now.
rajnz on 12/01/2007 at 2:12 AM
23
If we achieved the same feat in humans our lifespans would be about 5 centuries!
foolingreens on 12/04/2007 at 1:36 PM
1