Resveratrol Helps Reduce Fibrosis in Diabetic Muscles and Fat Tissues but Does Not Repair Damage
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Mar 09, 2025 11 hours, 46 minutes ago
Medical News: Researchers Investigate Resveratrol’s Effects on Diabetes-Related Tissue Damage
A team of researchers from the Instituto do Coracao (InCor) at the Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo in Brazil has explored how resveratrol, a natural compound found in grapes and berries, impacts diabetes-related damage in the heart, skeletal muscles, and fat tissues. The study aimed to determine whether resveratrol could help reverse structural damage caused by diabetes or simply improve certain molecular pathways.
Resveratrol Helps Reduce Fibrosis in Diabetic Muscles and Fat Tissues but Does Not Repair Damage
This
Medical News report highlights their key findings, offering insights into how resveratrol affects tissue fibrosis and metabolic functions in diabetic models.
Understanding the Study and Its Objectives
Diabetes is a serious condition that leads to multiple complications in various organs, particularly the heart, skeletal muscles, and fat tissues. One of the major issues associated with diabetes is fibrosis, which is the excessive accumulation of collagen in tissues, leading to stiffness and impaired function. Researchers wanted to see whether resveratrol could prevent or reverse these changes in diabetic conditions.
The study used an animal model, dividing Wistar rats into four groups: a healthy control group, a control group treated with resveratrol, a diabetic group, and a diabetic group treated with resveratrol. Diabetes was induced using a combination of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Resveratrol was administered for six weeks to observe its effects on fibrosis and metabolic pathways.
Key Findings on Resveratrol’s Impact on Different Tissues
-Effects on the Heart
In diabetic rats, the heart muscle showed increased collagen accumulation, a hallmark of fibrosis that leads to stiffening of the heart tissue. Resveratrol treatment significantly reduced collagen buildup, but it did not reverse structural abnormalities such as an enlarged left ventricle and thickened heart walls. The study also found that resveratrol affected protein signaling pathways related to heart function, reducing the activity of specific markers associated with tissue remodeling and inflammation.
-Effects on Skeletal Muscles
Skeletal muscle atrophy, or muscle shrinkage, is a common problem in diabetes. The study found that while resveratrol reduced fibrosis in the skeletal muscles, it did not prevent the overall loss of muscle mass. One reason for this could be that resveratrol influenced protein synthesis and degradation pathways but was not able to restore muscle-building mechanisms impaired by diabetes.
-Effects on Fat Tissues
Fat tissue is essential for storing energy and regulating metabolism, but diabetes disrupts its function, leading to tissue shrinkage and increased inflammation. In this study, resveratr
ol significantly reduced collagen levels in diabetic fat tissues, suggesting it helped decrease fibrosis. However, it did not lead to an overall improvement in fat tissue function. The presence of inflammatory markers, such as clusters of immune cells, remained unchanged despite resveratrol treatment. This indicates that while the compound reduced scarring, it did not reverse the inflammatory damage caused by diabetes.
How Resveratrol Affects Metabolic Pathways
Resveratrol influenced several key biological pathways in different tissues. One major effect was reducing the levels of a harmful protein known as the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE). RAGE plays a role in worsening diabetes complications by triggering inflammation and fibrosis. The study showed that resveratrol lowered RAGE levels in the heart, skeletal muscles, and fat tissues, which is a promising finding.
Additionally, resveratrol modified protein synthesis pathways, particularly the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which is responsible for muscle growth and maintenance. However, while it influenced these molecular markers, it did not lead to the restoration of normal muscle or fat tissue structures.
Conclusion and Implications for Diabetes Management
The study suggests that resveratrol has beneficial effects in reducing fibrosis and regulating metabolic pathways in diabetic conditions. However, it does not completely restore tissue structure or function. This means that while resveratrol may be useful in managing some aspects of diabetes-related complications, it should not be seen as a cure for reversing muscle loss or fat tissue damage.
For individuals with diabetes, this research provides a better understanding of how certain natural compounds like resveratrol may contribute to overall health. However, it also emphasizes the need for further studies to determine whether different dosages or longer treatment periods could yield better results. Future research may explore whether combining resveratrol with other treatments could enhance its effectiveness in preventing or repairing tissue damage caused by diabetes.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/4/1672
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