Resveratrol: a relevant pharmacological approach for the treatment of metabolic syndrome?

Purpose of review The metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk for development of both cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in humans. Because experimental data and clinical experience have shown that metabolic syndrome and caloric restriction have, at least partly, opposite pathophysiological pathways, the activation of sirtuins may constitute a pharmacological approach to treat metabolic syndrome. Resveratrol is a polyphenol produced by plants that has multiple beneficial activities similar to those associated with caloric restriction. Recent findings Through its regulatory action of both AMP kinase and the sirtuin sirtuin-1, resveratrol is a natural sirtuin activator that certainly will be the head of a new pharmacological family of drugs targeted on sirtuin-1 activity exacerbation in order to treat/protect from obesity and diabetes, and thus metabolic syndrome. Summary This review discusses the therapeutic use of resveratrol and sirtuin activators in the context of insulin resistance and obesity, the two main features of metabolic syndrome.