Resveratrol is an antioxidant that may help prevent and treat cancer. Laboratory testing of the compound on animals turned up benefits that have been harnessed in pill form. Resveratrol pills have been touted as helping to prevent cancer in dogs, and extending their lifespans.
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Definition of Resveratrol
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Resveratrol is a polyphenol antioxidant derived from various plants, red wine and the skin and seeds of grapes, as well as peanuts. It acts as an anti-inflammatory that may help prevent cancer. A 2007 New York Times story called the compound "the elixir of youth," capable of treating diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and even contributing to an increased life span.
How It Works
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Resveratrol activates the gene SIRT-1, which slows aging and wards off disease, according to the New York Times.
Effects
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According to the National Cancer Institute, "Resveratrol has been shown to reduce tumor incidence in animals by affecting one or more stages of cancer development. Recent evidence from animal studies suggests this anti-inflammatory compound may be an effective chemopreventive agent in three stages of the cancer process: initiation, promotion and progression."
In cells and animals, resveratrol has been found effective with leukemia, skin, breast and prostate cancers by inhibiting cancer cell growth.
The website for Resvantage Canine, a form of the compound given to dogs, quotes Dr. David Sinclair, an associate professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School, as saying in 2006, "Resveratrol has extended the lifespan of every living species we have fed it to."
Dogs and Cancer
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Like humans, dogs are susceptible to several kinds of cancer, including cancers affecting the skin, bones, kidneys and other parts of the body. Treatments include those typically used on humans, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, diet changes and holistic therapies.
Resvantage Canine
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Resvantage Canine is marketed as a "longevity supplement" for dogs. Aside from resveratrol, ingredients include Atlantic kelp, flaxseed oil and lecithin. Although the medication is not marketed as a cure for cancer, it is advertised as a possible way to prevent cancer.
The drug also is said to benefit cardiovascular health, the immune system, skin and coat, antioxidant protection, joint function and energy and endurance. Resvantage Canine is given in a capsule with food, and dogs are dosed at one capsule per day for every 30 pounds of the dog's weight. If a dog gets multiple doses in one day, they should be given at different times of day. Resveratrol should not be given to puppies younger than 6 months old, dogs who are pregnant or nursing, dogs used in breeding and dogs with iodine sensitivity.
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