Comments on: Suspended Resveratrol Clinical Trial: More Details Emerge

By: Judy Smith

Judy Smith — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:33:46 +0000

Does anyone have information on TKI 258? It is our understanding this drug is in trial at St. Louis University Oncology Dept. in St. Louis, Mo.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:19:20 +0000

This form of resveratrol cannot be said to be truly “natural” given that it has been “milled extensively so that it is absorbed into the bloodstream more than standard resveratrol”.

In order to be patented as a medicine, a substance has to be changed from its natural state. Perhaps, therein lies the problem. There may be protective factors in the standard forms of resveratrol that have been altered through the “milling” process.

Personally, I would prefer to use a natural or food-based form, over something that has been altered, chemically or otherwise – unless safety was clearly demonstrated. Health-giving foods tend to have track records of centuries, even millenia, of safe use.

In some cases, it may be best not to mess with Mother Nature.

I’m using standard resveratrol, and will continue to do so. It is important to understand that standard resveratrol and the clinically tested version are not the same substance. The clinical trial version has been altered through milling even if still technically “natural”; the other has not.

By: Beacon Staff

Beacon Staff — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:58:18 +0000

Thank you, mark, for your comment.

Everyone we spoke with at Sirtris, and many other knowledgeable people who are familiar with the chemistry of SRT501, have said publicly and on the record that SRT501 is absolutely and unequivocally resveratrol. It is derived from a plant source and milled extensively so that it is absorbed into the bloodstream more than standard resveratrol. But it is nevertheless still resveratrol — not a “chemical cousin” or “chemical analog”, as some people have tried to describe it.

If you have information that conclusively demonstrates that SRT501 is actually chemically different than resveratrol, please feel free to share it with us.

It is true, by the way, that Sirtris is developing other compounds that are intended to function similarly to resveratrol, but are not chemically identical to resveratrol. SRT501, however, is not one of those other compounds.

By: mark

mark — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:25:59 +0000

Its important not to provide misleading information to patients. This drug is not resveratrol, nor is it chemically similar (I worked with this agent in the lab). It was a novel compound that was supposed to activate the same pathways as resveratrol but is probably not a direct activator of the sirtuin pathway, as was recently argued in a JBC article. So rather than frighten patients who are possibly taking a benign nutritional supplement, you should clarify that this trial has nothing to do with resveratrol as it is sold in health food stores.

By: Beacon Staff

Beacon Staff — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:12:34 +0000

Dear Debra, We're glad to hear that you were recently released from the hospital. We hope the stem cell transplant went smoothly and successfully holds off the return of your myeloma. You may be interested in checking out our Beacon Forums. Feel free to introduce yourself on the forum, read through other people's posts and experiences, and post any questions you may have. It's a good way to connect with other myeloma patients.

By: Debra Clay

Debra Clay — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 00:04:27 +0000

I just went through Cemo / Stem Cell Transplant for MM. Released from the hospital Sept.4 2010. I was in stage 3+. Didn’t know if I would make it when I found out in Jan. But through prayer and good Dr’s I pulled through and was able to go through Cemo/stem cell trans. I would like to get on some kind of live talk or email with others that are going through or been their people.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:39:43 +0000

I appreciate the time you spend researching and deciphering scientific jargon to translate it into more readily understandable writings. The thing that struck me about this scientific clinical trial of resveratrol was that they used a mega-dose of resveratrol [5 gm/day]. I think sometimes they set up these trials of natural substances in a way that is designed to fail so that they can scare people away from using them.

By: Clark

Clark — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:36:22 +0000

Looking like my cat has liver cancer. Giving him 500 mg of Biotivia Transmax resveratrol throughout the day with food. He is acting absolutely fine other than a bloated belly from an ascites side effect from the tumor. I’m just taking a shot at lengthening his life with resveratrol. Does anybody think I could be doing more harm than good? I don’t want to cost him any time.

Thanks for any thoughts.

By: W K TAN

W K TAN — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:20:14 +0000

I took resveratrol (brand witheld) for a week on 2000mg per day.
When I went for a normal blood test my potassium went up to 6.5. Immediately send to A&E. Flushed out the potassium and on 5th day took 2 again and it went up again. I am a CKD, probably due to high potassium level cautioon must be taken to administer this supplement.

By: G Alvarado

G Alvarado — Thu, 13 May 2010 23:34:41 +0000

As Dr. Aggarwal notes, it is likely that SRT501 has a different toxicity level, and the dosage administered (5 grams) played a part in the kidney failure. Sirtris should reconsider the formulation and delivery system. It’s been widely reported that intraoral administration of resveratrol makes it more bioavailable. In consequence, it doesn’t require such high dosages in order to attain biological effects. They could learn a thing or two from nutraceutical companies that have already succeeded in producing intraoral resveratrol in the form of melts, lozenges, sub-linguals and sprays.