Older people are more likely to develop diseases such as osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease. These progressive conditions also increase the risk of fracture. To lower the risk, a team of researchers at Midwestern University and Auburn University suggests that older people take resveratrol and exercise regularly.
For the study, the researchers looked at the effect of resveratrol and exercise on age-related bone fractures in mice. They hypothesized that resveratrol and exercise could reduce the risk of bone fractures in mice with Alzheimer’s disease and age-matched wild type mice. To test the hypothesis, they treated mice with resveratrol or exercise or a combination of the two for four months. Exercise training was performed on a treadmill at 15 meters (m) for 45 minutes every day, five times a week, while resveratrol was administered at 4 grams per kilogram of body weight (g/kg) in the form of pellets.
Mice with Alzheimer’s disease exhibited signs of diminished bone quality, increasing their risk for limb bone fracture compared to wild type controls. The results showed that treatment with both resveratrol and exercise improved indicators of fracture resistance and bone quality in mice with Alzheimer’s disease.
From these results, the researchers concluded that resveratrol and exercise could enhance bone strength and resistance to fracture, suggesting their potential in Alzheimer’s disease-related fracture risk. The team published their study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Where to get resveratrol
Resveratrol is a natural compound that has been linked to a variety of health benefits, including cancer prevention, healthy aging, and protection against cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol can be found in the highest amounts in the skins of grapes and red wine. A study in the journal Food Chemistry has shown that red wine varieties made from Pinot Noir and St. Laurent grapes contain the highest levels of resveratrol, amounting to 14.3 milligrams (mg) of resveratrol per liter. Red grape juice is also a good source of resveratrol, containing 1.14 to 8.69 mg per liter. (Related: Natural grape compound resveratrol increases bone density in obese men.)
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Berries such as bilberries and blueberries are also good sources of resveratrol. It is best to avoid baking the berries to avoid losing up to 46 percent of the resveratrol content. Resveratrol can also be obtained from peanuts, although at lower levels than grape products or berries.
Best exercises for strong bones
Weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises are two types of activities that are particularly beneficial to people with osteoporosis to build and maintain bone density. Low-impact weight-bearing exercises are useful for people who are at risk of breaking a bone and are a safe alternative to high-impact exercises to keep bones strong. These exercises can include using elliptical training machines, doing low-impact aerobics, using stair-step machines, and fast walking on a treadmill or outdoors.
On the other hand, muscle-strengthening exercises, also known as resistance exercises, include activities that involve moving the body with a weight or some other resistance against gravity. Some examples of this type of exercise include lifting weights, those that use your body weight, using elastic exercise bands, using weight machines, and functional movements like standing and rising on your toes.
For more studies on natural treatments for age-related diseases like osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease, visit Longevity.news.
Sources include:
Science.news
Livestrong
NOF.org