Resveratrol and energy metabolism

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic stilbene derivate, has been shown to exert multiple effects on energy metabolism by modulating different proteins involved in energy homeostasis. Specifically, resveratrol has been demonstrated to mimic metabolic activities of caloric restriction by targeting selective mechanisms of nutrient utilization and mitochondrial oxidative function to regulate energy balance in cell culture studies and animal experiments. In non-human primates, resveratrol has been shown to induce satiety signals and to reduce body-mass gain by increasing the resting metabolic rate. One of the major metabolic target sites of resveratrol is SIRT1. By allosteric activation of SIRT1, a mammalian histone deacetylase, resveratrol enhances mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation and oxygen consumption in muscle, thereby improving the mitochondrial metabolic efficiency. Apart from activation by SIRT1, resveratrol is known to elevate the catalytic activity of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), leading to reduced gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis. This review provides an overview of the mechanistic action of resveratrol on various pathways regulating satiety and energy metabolism.