Diagnosed as a child with
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, I have
spent a good chunk of my life researching
virtually every possible treatment and
cure on the map. From herbal to exercise,
I’m a walking encyclopedia of rheumatoid
arthritis information. However, it was
only very recently that I learned of the
possible benefits of wine with regard
to arthritis. Huh? My arthritis treatments
involve precise measurements of smelly
herbs that require painstaking preparation
and inevitably stink up the house, not
the simple popping of a cork. If it smells
bad and tastes worse, it must be good
for me. Or so I’ve thought. How could
something I actually enjoy, even treasure,
like red wine possibly help my arthritis?
It just sounded too good to be true. But,
maybe not.
In a study published in
the U.S. Journal of Biological Chemistry
on August 21, 1998, a team of researchers
from Cornell suggested that the substance
trans-resveratrol, a natural substance
found in high concentration in red wine,
could reduce the pain of arthritis by
thwarting the activation of the gene cyclozygenase-2
(COX-2) which is suspected of creating
the inflammation that causes arthritis
pain. The study went on to report that
trans-resveratrol is the first compound
identified that both blocks the COX-2
gene from being activated and also inactivates
the enzyme created by that gene. And,
in that sense, according to lead investigator
in the study, Dr. Andrew Dannenberg of
Weill Medical College of Cornell University,
"trans-resveratrol may turn out to
be an improvement on aspirin in fighting
diseases associated with COX-2 such as
arthritis, certain forms of cancer, and
even Alzheimer’s disease."
If you’ve been anywhere
near a television lately, chances are
you’ve seen a commercial for Celebrex
or Vioxx, those arthritis medicines, like
trans-resveratrol, operate as COX-2 inhibitors.
According to the study, reservatrol not
only acts to inhibit the COX-2 generated
enzyme, as do those medicines, but it
may also "turn off" or prevent
the activation of the COX-2 gene itself.
But why just red wine and
not white wine? Reservatrol is a compound
produced in the skin of grapes. Red wine
uses the skin of red grapes in the production
process. Reservatrol is often referred
to as a "red-wine" derivative
and levels may vary from one to another
and from season to season.
So, will I abandon my smelly
herbal concoctions, aspirin, and ever-evolving
exercise plan in favor or pure red wine
therapy? Probably not. But it is nice
to know that something I enjoy so much
might actually be good for me as well.
Journal of Biological Chemistry, August
21, 1998
For more on arthritis, visit
the Arthritis
& Glucosamine Resource Center.
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