June, the month where we honor dads, is a great time to consider these two nutrients and their possible affects on men’s health.

Resveratrol and bone density

Earlier lab studies found resveratrol protected against bone loss. In one of the first human trials, doctors said that metabolic syndrome can increase chances of bone loss, and gave 66 men with the syndrome a placebo, 1,000 mg or 150 mg of resveratrol in two divided doses per day.

After 16 weeks, compared to placebo, men who took the high-dose resveratrol had a 2.6 percent increase in lumbar spine bone mineral volume density, and a 16 percent increase in signs of bone formation. Researchers said resveratrol improved bone mineral density at the spine, primarily by stimulating mineralization, or bone formation.

Reference: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism; October, 2014, Published Online

Omega-3s and heart health

Doctors wanted to test if the lower rates of heart disease in Japan are due to genetic factors or to consuming more omega-3 fatty acids from fish than do Americans. In the study, researchers measured coronary artery calcification in 175 Japanese men and in 113 American white men. All the men began the study with zero calcification.

After an average of 6.2 years of follow-up, about 6 percent of the Japanese men had developed calcification compared to 13 percent of American men. Researchers took into account differences in chances for heart disease and concluded that U.S. men had three times the rate of calcification as Japanese men, who consumed 100 percent more marine omega-3s than their American counterparts, or about 4 ounces of fish per day. Doctors concluded that the vast difference in heart disease between Japanese and American men is not due to genetics, but to greater consumption of omega-3s.

Reference: Heart; 2014, Vol. 100, No. 7, 569-73

Betsy’s Note: Resveratrol and Omega-3s also thin blood.  In addition, resveratrol may have phytoestrogenic effects.  This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Consult your healthcare provider, especially if you have a medical condition and/or are taking prescription medications.

Article copyright 2015 by Natural Insights for Well Being. All rights reserved.  Used with permission.