Wine
Drinkers Live Longer
Drinking
red wine and cooking with olive oil may help us to live longer, say scientists.
Figures from the European Union show that people living in Mediterranean
countries like
Spain
and
Italy
can expect to live longer on average than people in other countries. Key
ingredients in both substances can significantly increase the lifespan of yeast.
Since yeast and humans share many genes, scientists have speculated they
may have the same effect in people. The findings provide more evidence to
suggest that the Mediterranean diet may be the secret to living a long and
healthy life.
Key
molecules
The
scientists, from
Harvard
Medical
School
and Biomol research laboratory in
Philadelphia
, have identified resveratrol as the key ingredient in red wine. This molecule
is abundant in red wine. It gives red wine its anti-cancer and anti-heart
disease properties. They have found that this molecule can influence genes that
have been linked to lifespan in yeast.
The scientists found that resveratrol could increase the lifespan of
yeast cells in a variety of doses. However, similar tests on human cells showed
that dosage is important. A very broad range of doses were very effective in
yeast, however, it was different with human cells. There appeared to be a very
narrow range at the low end. If doses were too high they appeared to have the
opposite effect.
The also found that quercetin, which is abundant in olive oil, has a
similar effect. In particular, they affect those genes that have been shown to
extend life as a result of a calorie-restricted diet by enabling cells to live
longer.
In the case of resveratrol it was found to extend the life of some yeast
cells by as much as 70%. Previous studies have suggested that severe calorie
restriction can increase the lifespan of organisms like yeast, fruit flies,
worms and rats.
Scientists
are trying to develop drugs that could have a similar impact on humans. The
discovery that resveratrol and quercetin can increase the lifespan in yeast
could boost those efforts.
Scientists are planning similar tests on other species, including mice,
to see if the molecules can extend their life. Although very early in the
research stages, it highlights the potential health benefits of the
Mediterranean diet. It certainly brings us closer to being able to intervene
pharmacologically in humans to extend longevity.
Figures from the European Union show that people living in Mediterranean
countries like
Spain
and
Italy
can expect to live longer on average than people in other countries.
Average life
expectancy in
Spain
is 75 for men and 83 for women. This compares to the
UK
, where men can expect to live until they are 75 but women can expect to live
to 80. In the
US
, average life expectancy is 74 for men and 80 for women.