A very recent research has provided unexpected findings suggesting that:
- Tiny amount of alcohol has a positive effect on health
- Scientists reveals the most unexpected finding on longevity
- Alcohol can enhance health & longevity
- Does this apply for Humans?
Scientists have found that small amounts of alcohol can actually double the lifespan of a laboratory worm used for aging studies.
The volume of alcohol is very small; a single beer mixed in 100 gallons of water brings this remarkable effect on the lifespan on the laboratory worm. Yet, UCLA researchers say that the anti-aging effect discovered in alcohol may similar result on human health.
UCLA Professor of chemistry & bio-chemistry, Steven Clarke says the discovery ‘floored us – it’s shocking’.
With the use of a microscope to study the effect on the worm after given a small amount of alcohol, was amazing. Under high magnification, the worm given alcohol was much more active in comparison to worms not given alcohol.
This particular worm is used in anti-aging research because 50 percent of its genes match our own human genes. According to Clarke, this study might help the scientists to identify a particular gene producing the longevity effect on the worm. This can thereafter have significant implication for human longevity.
Typically, this type of worm lives for 15 days, and it can actually survive without eating anything for 10 to 12 days. The worms used in the experiment (given a small amount of ethanol) could live 20 to 40 days.
Nevertheless, other researchers have shown that if the worms consume a higher concentration of ethanol (alcohol that human consumes), then they will suffer from harmful neurological effects and will die prematurely.
Yet, Clarke says that they used a very tiny amount of alcohol, and the study found that small amount of alcohol had beneficial bio-chemistry effect on the aging of the worm.
Surprisingly, the tiny ethanol ratio to water of 1-to-1,000 dilution did apparently work similarly to a dilution ration of 1-to-20,000. It was expected that such a microscopic amount wouldn’t have any effect yet it led to positive longevity benefits.
According to Clarke, a tablespoon of ethanol mixed in a full bathtub of water would represent the same concentration. In other words, one beer diluted in roughly 100 gallons of water.
There are currently, several unanswered questions, and there might be some other explanation for the increase in longevity, but Clarke doesn’t think so. Because it was noted that when the ethanol concentration was increased, the longevity benefit was not present. The absolutely lowest volume of alcohol had the strongest benefit.
The study found that if the ethanol concentration level was increased by 80, the worm didn’t benefit with longer life.
Typically, this type of (c.elegans) worms live for 15 days, and it can actually survive without eating anything for 10 to 12 days. The worms used in the experiment (given a small amount of ethanol) could live 20 to 40 days.
Does A Small Amount of Alcohol Increase Human Health?
The research posed the question, whether a tiny amount of ethanol would result in similar longevity and health benefits for humans. This is still unknown, but other researches have proven that moderate consumption of alcohol in humans has some cardiovascular health benefits.
The finding is a break-through in anti-aging research, and upcoming research in Clarke’s laboratory will emphasis on identifying the mechanism inducing the worm’s increase lifespan.
A former Ph.D student and co-author Shilip Khara from UCLA’s biochemistry & molecular biology program says that a high alcohol consumption does have detrimental physiological effect on humans, yet recent researches are showing that moderate consumption of alcohol, one or two glasses of beer or wine do significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease while also ‘ostensibly’ increasing longevity.
The result is fascinating, yet according to Khara; our comprehension in the underling process is still in its early phase.
Sat, Feb 11, 2012
Anti Aging, Health And Aging, Longevity