Wine may help prevent diabetes, in mice

BEIJING, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Low doses of resveratrol -- found in the skins of red grapes and in red wine -- can improve the sensitivity of mice to insulin, a Chinese study found.

Insulin resistance is often characterized as the most critical factor contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes, so findings "provide a potential new therapeutic approach for preventing or treating" both conditions, Qiwei Zhai, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said.

The study, published in Cell Metabolism, confirmed increased levels of the enzyme SIRT1, which earlier studies had linked to longevity, DNA repair and insulin secretion, improve insulin sensitivity in mice. Resveratrol is known to activate the SIRT1 enzyme, the researchers said.

The findings suggest that red wine might have some benefits for insulin sensitivity, but it needs to be confirmed by further investigation, the researchers said.