Agrolabs Superberry Upgrade with Resveratrol Supplement

• Product: AgroLabs Superberry Upgrade with Resveratrol anti-aging fruit drink, $16.99 for 16 fluid ounces at CVS, Costco, Walmart and Walgreens.

• Key ingredients: concentrated fruit juices (including blueberry, chokeberry, apple, elderberry, black currant, acai, Concord grape, white grape, mangosteen, goji, cranberry and pear), aloe vera gel juice, a blend of grape skin extract, green tea leaf extract and grape seed extract, and a blend of aloe vera polysaccharde extract, ginseng tea extract and gingko biloba extract.

• The pitch: Reap the benefits of cellular anti-aging, revitalized hair, skin and nails, all-day energy, and antioxidants that scavenge free radicals.

• Pros: A 2008 study supported in part by the National Institute on Aging found that resveratrol prevented age-related and obesity-related cardiovascular decline in mice. Italian scientists obtained the first positive result of resveratrol supplementation in a vertebrate in 2006, when they found it increased the median life span of a short-lived fish by 56 percent.

A French study published in the journal Cell in November 2006 reported that mice fed resveratrol for 15 weeks had better treadmill endurance than those not given the supplement. Ongoing research on plant antioxidants shows promise in preventing cancer, aging, heart disease and other conditions. A Cornell University study in the Jan. 31, 2008, Journal of Food Science found that antioxidants in fruit -- especially apples -- can protect against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's.

• Cons: While research shows promise for a connection between resveratrol and life span extension in yeast, worms and mice, there is no published evidence in scientific literature showing those benefits for normal-weight animals or humans. The long-term safety of resveratrol has not been evaluated in humans; some studies suggest it could stimulate breast cancer cells and slow healing. Because resveratrol is rapidly metabolized in intestines and liver, only trace amounts make it into the blood when it's taken orally.

Research into antioxidants also has been confined largely to animals. The December 2007 issue of Molecular Pharmaceutics warned that consumer demand for supplements with phytochemicals (antioxidants) found in fruits and vegetables has outpaced scientific knowledge of the actual health benefits. The Food and Drug Administration has prohibited manufacturers from claiming that consuming their antioxidant products will reduce disease risk.

• Bottom line: The health benefits of resveratrol and antioxidants seem promising, but researchers still have much to learn before they can be recommended for human use. For now, stick to eating foods rich in antioxidants including wild blueberries, red beans, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.

http://www.miamiherald.com/1265/story/963464.html