Resveratrol, a Multitasking Molecule That Improves Skeletal Muscle Health

Abstract

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol utilized in Chinese traditional medicine and thought to be one of the determinants of the “French Paradox”. More recently, some groups evidenced its properties as a calorie-restriction mimetic, suggesting that its action passes through the modulation of skeletal muscle metabolism. Accordingly, the number of studies reporting the beneficial effects of resveratrol on skeletal muscle form and function, in both experimental models and humans, is steadily increasing. Although studies on animal models confer to resveratrol a good potential to ameliorate skeletal muscle structure, function and performance, clinical trials still do not provide clear-cut information. Here, we first summarize the effects of resveratrol on the distinct components of the skeletal muscle, such as myofibers, the neuromuscular junction, tendons, connective sheaths and the capillary bed. Second, we review clinical trials focused on the analysis of skeletal muscle parameters. We suggest that the heterogeneity in the response to resveratrol in humans could depend on sample characteristics, treatment modalities and parameters analyzed; as well, this heterogeneity could possibly reside in the complexity of skeletal muscle physiology. A systematic programming of treatment protocols and analyses could be helpful to obtain consistent results in clinical trials involving resveratrol administration.

Gender Differences in the Impact of a High-Fat, High-Sugar Diet in Skeletal Muscles of Young Female and Male Mice

“…Although recent studies are pointing towards the importance of sex-dependent differences in skeletal muscle form and function [58][59][60][61], very often, research protocols and clinical trials entail mainly males [62]. In this context, in a recent review on human trials to test the effect of Resveratrol on skeletal muscle function, we reported that only 9 out of 24 clinical trials involved women [63]. Based on the distinct sex-dependent development of diet-induced metabolic dysregulation described here and in other works, the potential of skeletal muscle-directed strategies should be reconsidered.…”

Clinical studies with drugs and biologics aimed at slowing or reversing normal aging processes—emerging results and future perspectives

“…Clinical research with drugs and biologics intended to slow or reverse normal aging processes has only recently begun [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Positive results are beginning to emerge from the very numerous clinical trials (and observational studies) launched worldwide (Table 1).…”

“…Human sirtuins are a family of 7 signaling NAD + -dependent protein deacetylases that are involved in metabolic regulation, resistance to stress, and cellular processes, including aging and cell death [10,11]. The natural polyphenol resveratrol is a powerful activator of sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) [12,13].…”

“…A substantial effort is currently deployed to find specific drugs and biologics intended to slow or reverse normal aging processes. Currently, several literature reviews are available that identify and analyze clinical studies with the following specific families of compounds (Table 1): (i) longevity candidates [2,3], (ii) mesenchymal stem cells [4][5][6], (iii) senolytics drugs [7][8][9], (iv) sirtuin activators [10][11][12][13], and (v) nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) + precursors [14][15][16][17][18]. An overview of emerging results and future perspectives from clinical studies conducted with the five compound families mentioned above is presented here.…”

Investigating the Combined Effects of Mechanical Stress and Nutrition on Muscle Hypertrophic Signals Using Contractile 3D-Engineered Muscle (3D-EM)

“…Regarding nutrition, numerous plant-derived natural compounds have demonstrated their capacity to induce muscle growth and hypertrophy, including curcumin, resveratrol, green tea, and ginkgo biloba extract [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Among them, over the past 20 years, there has been a growing interest in and demand for Lepidium meyenii Walp, or maca, due to its health benefits [ 9 ].…”