Biophysical interaction of resveratrol with sirtuin pathway: Significance in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a widespread neurodegenerative condition that leads to progressive cognitive dysfunction in elderly population. Despite several attempts aimed at molecular determinants of AD, effective disease modifying treatment options are highly limited. Recently, use of natural supplements has gained considerable attention in AD research due to their cost effective and long lasting health beneficial properties. Resveratrol (RSV) is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound found majorly in grapes. RSV has been shown to exert a plethora of medical benefits due to its anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-malignant and neuroprotective properties. In particular, RSV has been shown to increase memory performance. The neuroprotective effect of RSV has strongly been linked to the depolymerization of amyloid ß fibrils. However, the molecular targets of RSV remain the subject of investigation. This review was aimed to comprehend the existing knowledge on the neuroprotective effects of RSV and recent progress made on understanding the role RVS in the regulation of neural plasticity through a molecular target Sirtuin 1, a potential homeostatic regulator in AD.

Association of fruit and vegetable intake with cardiovascular risk factors in urban south Indians.

The study examines the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake (g/d) and CVD risk factors in urban south Indians. The study population comprised of 983 individuals aged > or = 20 years selected from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study (CURES), a population-based cross-sectional study on a representative population of Chennai in southern India. Fruit and vegetable intake (g/d) was measured using a validated semi-quantitative FFQ. Linear regression analysis revealed that after adjusting for potential confounders such as age, sex, smoking, alcohol, BMI and total energy intake, the highest quartile of fruit and vegetable intake (g/d) showed a significant inverse association with systolic blood pressure (beta = - 2.6 (95 % CI - 5.92, - 1.02) mmHg; P = 0.027), BMI (beta = - 2.3 (95 % CI - 2.96, - 1.57) kg/m2; P < 0.0001), waist circumference (beta = - 2.6 (95 % CI - 3.69, - 1.46) cm; P < 0.0001), total cholesterol (beta = - 50 (95 % CI - 113.9, - 13.6) mg/l; P = 0.017) and LDL-cholesterol concentration (beta = - 55 (95 % CI - 110.8, - 11.1) mg/l; P = 0.039) when compared with the lowest quartile. A higher intake of fruit and vegetables explained 48 % of the protective effect against CVD risk factors. Increased intake of fruits and vegetables could play a protective role against CVD in Asian Indians who have high rates of premature coronary artery disease.