German scientists have discovered that resveratrol, a substance found in grapes and red wine, can inhibit the growth of fat cells, achieving a weight loss effect.
Researchers at the University of Ulm used a group of human precursor fat cells for their experiment. In the human body, these precursor fat cells naturally develop into mature fat cells. However, the addition of resveratrol in the experiment reduced the number of precursor cells and hindered their development into mature fat cells.
More interestingly, resveratrol can also reduce certain cytokines (interleukin-6 and 8), which substances may cause obesity. Furthermore, resveratrol can stimulate protein synthesis, reducing the risk of heart disease.
Dr. Pamela Fischer-Posovszky stated that although resveratrol can inhibit fat cell growth, its long-term effects are not yet known. The study found that a single dose of resveratrol of 5 grams or less (far exceeding the total amount of resveratrol in a bottle of red wine) does not harm human health. However, another theoretical study suggests that resveratrol can stimulate the growth of human breast cancer cells.