Healthy Living

The "French paradox" and beyond: neuroprotective effects of polyphenols(1,2)

Sun AY, Simonyi A, Sun GY.
Free Radic Biol Med 2002 Feb 15;32(4):314-8

Chronic ethanol ingestion is known to cause oxidative damage to a number of organs including the brain. This is partly due to the ability of ethanol to enhance oxygen free radical production and lipid peroxidation. Increase in oxidative stress has been regarded as an important underlying factor for a number of human health problems including cardiovascular diseases, aging, as well as many age-related neurodegenerative diseases. The strikingly low incidences of coronary heart diseases (CHD) in France, despite intake of a high-fat diet, have been attributed to the consumption of red wine containing high levels of polyphenolic compounds. In recent years, understanding the "French Paradox" has stimulated new research interest to investigate whether polyphenolic antioxidants may offer protective effects beyond the cardiovascular system, and whether polyphenols from other botanical sources may similarly offer beneficial effects to human health. Our studies with animal models have provided information clearly indicating the ability of grape polyphenols to ameliorate neuronal damages due to chronic ethanol consumption. Studies with resveratrol, an important component of grape polyphenols, also show protective effects on neuron cell death induced by ethanol and other oxidative agents. These studies demonstrate an urgent need to extend research beyond the "French Paradox" towards better understanding molecular mechanisms of action of polyphenolic compounds and their application to human health.

What this means

This study attempted to characterize the exact mechanism of the antioxidant constituents in wine, protecting brain and central nervous system cells from damage by ethanol. Theses constituents are found to be the usual suspects which include trans-resveratrol (a favourite molecule here at Kamil Juices), and anthocyanides. Evidence in the paper demonstrates that the antioxidant molecules not only protect brain cells from the damage of everyday agents but the ethanol that is present in wine. This may indicate why only wine is being promoted as being protective for a number of chronic health conditions rather than the ethanol itself.