Red wine antioxidant may protect against radiation exposure

 Adding more to the previous studies that have mentioned the health benefits of red wine, researchers in the US have suggested that this popular drink could offer protection against radiationdefine exposure too.

A substance found in red wine, grapes and other fruits, controls the damaging effects of radiationdefine exposure in mice, a study by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine reported on Tuesday.

The ingredient, called resveratrol, is a polyphenolic compound which lies in the skin of red grapes and, therefore, in red wine. This compound had already shown some spectacular results of lower cardiovascular illnesses in worms, fruit flies and yeast.

While presenting their findings at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology meeting in Boston, Dr. Joel Greenberger, a radiation oncologistdefine at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and study’s lead author, said that resveratrol could prevent some of the damage caused by radiation.

In a lab study, this natural antioxidant, when altered using a compound called acetyl and administered before radiation exposure, has shown promise in protecting cells from radiation exposure in mouse models, the researchers said.

"New, small molecules with radioprotective capacity will be required for treatment in case of radiation spills or even as counter measures against radiological terrorism," said Dr Greenberger. "Small molecules which can be easily stored, transported and administered are optimal for this, and so far acetylated resveratrol fits these requirements well."

Dr Greenberger said currently there are no drugs on the market that protect against or counteract radiation exposure adding that they now aim to develop treatments for the general population that are effective and non-toxic.

According to the study authors, the findings could help scientists develop drugs to counteract poisoning in the wake of a nuclear attack.

“This looks like a promising development for humans when used before radiation,” says Dr. Michael Epperly, associate professor of the Department of Radiation Oncology and a member of the research team. “Those undergoing radiation therapy may be protected by it, as well as people who may be responding to some kind of nuclear event or spill, such as first responders.”

According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), radiation is all around us. Naturally present in our environment, this ionizing radiation comes from outer space (cosmic), the ground (terrestrial), and even from within our own bodies.

According to NRC the average annual radiation exposure from natural sources to an individual in the United States is about 300 millirem (3 millisieverts). While Radon gas accounts for two-thirds of this exposure, cosmic, terrestrial, and internal radiation account for the rest.

In addition, man-made sources of radiation from medical, commercial, and industrial activities contribute another 60 mrem (0.6 mSv) to our annual radiation exposure. One of the largest of these sources of exposure is medical x-rays.

As per the NRC, for low levels of radiation exposure, the biological effects are so small they may not be detected, while exposure to relatively high levels of ionizing radiation can cause several types of cancerdefine, including leukemia, breast, bladderdefine, colondefine, liver, lung, esophagus, ovarian, multiple myeloma, and stomach cancers.