The scientists discovered that the “alcoholic” mice given resveratrol had less fat in their livers than the alcoholic mice that were not given resveratrol! In adition, the fat broke down quicker in the liver of the resveratrol fed mice than the control group mice given no resveratrol.

The researchers also pointed out that resveratrol was also shown to activate fat metabolizing molecules in the liver as well. Chronic alcohol abuse or alcoholism tends to inhibit the activation of these molecules.

The scientists concluded that their research suggests that resveratrol is efficacious in both protecting and treating the liver in mice against an alcoholic fatty liver. Of course, this demonstrates the potential benefits in treating alcoholics and healing damaged fatty livers in humans.

The study appears in the the October 2008 issue of The American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology.