Dr Dore surmised that, “it’s not likely that brain cells can have high enough local levels of resveratrol to be protective,” as “resveratrol is needed to jump-start this protective enzymatic system that is already present within the cells” however “even a small amount may be sufficient.”

The experiments on mice used a group receiving resveratrol supplements and one that didn’t (control group) prior to inducing a stroke in both groups (In the name of science!). The mice receiving the resveratrol showed significantly less damage sustained from the effects of the induced stroke than the control group.

In conclusion, the study suggests that resveratrol in small doses may act as a preventative measure against severe brain damage that often accompanies a stroke. The paper will be printed in an upcoming issue of Journal Of Experimental Neurology.

Scientists from the National Chia-Yi University and the National Taiwan Normal University reported that lab rats with induced limited blood flow in the brain (cerebral ischemia) experienced an increased blood flow – approximately 30% – from a single dose of resveratrol.

Kwok Tung Lu said that “We found that resveratrol administration… led to cerebral blood flow elevation and protected animals from ischemia-induced neuron loss.”

Strokes can happen subsequent to blood clots forming or when an artery ‘pops’ in the brain and disrupts the blood supply to parts of the brain.

The new study, separated sixty adult male rats into three identical groups. One was a control group; a second group was induced with cerebral ischemia; and the third group was also induced to reduced blood flow but was also given an intravenous dose of resveratrol (20 mg / kg of body weight).

The cerebral blood flow in the second group diminished by 65 % as opposed to the control group. The cerebral ischemia resveratrol group’s blood flow also diminished, but only by 35%.

The scientists also discovered that nitric oxide(NO) concentrations in the affected portion of the rats’ brains were 25% greater in the rats given a resveratrol dose than both the ischemia-only group and the control group. Nitric oxide is a molecule used by lining of blood vessels (endothelium) to activate the surrounding muscle to relax, thereby dilating the blood vessel and augmenting the blood flow.

Scientist Lu stated “ that resveratrol may elicit neuroprotective effects by stimulating NO formation or release, which increases cerebral blood flow,”.

This research is very compelling especially for those who are at greater risk of having a stroke. Resveratrol supplements may be efficacious in warding off a possible stroke by dilating neural blood vessels and increasing flow in the brain.

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