Research conducted by Coventry University has found that the antioxidant polyphenol resveratrol may reduce muscle weakness associated with a high-fat diet.
Published in the Journal of Physiology, this is the first study to clearly show that the nutraceutical — which is commonly found in foods like red grapes and peanuts — can help preserve both muscular strength and performance.1
Previous research has found that resveratrol can enhance Sirtuin-1 expression; a key protein involved in metabolic regulation and cellular antioxidant activity in those with type 2 diabetes, while the polyphenol has also been shown to reduce arterial stiffness in this demographic.
To assess how the antioxidant could impact muscular parameters, researchers examined the effects of daily resveratrol intake on mice fed a high-fat diet during a 12 week period.
Interestingly, those that received the supplement displayed significantly greater muscular power than those who weren't given resveratrol — despite being on the same diet.
Some of the mice given resveratrol had similar muscle function to those fed a standard, healthier diet, suggesting daily resveratrol intake may offer a protective effect from high-fat diets.
The antioxidant's effect was seen strongest in the muscles used for quick, powerful movements; which are generally the muscle type most influenced by a high-fat diet.
"This is the first time we’ve seen such direct results that resveratrol can protect muscle performance under the stress of a high-fat diet," noted Coventry University's project lead and Associate Professor, Jason Tallis.
"By applying this discovery to human trials, we could open up new opportunities to tackle the obesity pandemic, offering potentially life-changing benefits to quality of life and mobility," he added.
“We will now be able to use the findings to investigate safe and effective treatment and preventative strategies.”
Reference
1 https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1113/JP287056