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The anti-diabetic drug Avandia (chemical name – rosiglitazone) is widely associated with increased risk for heart attacks and has been broadly criticized as potentially unsafe. However, the underlying mechanism behind potentially life-threatening events has remained obscure. Furthermore, some studies show this drug induces heart attacks while others do not.

Researchers in The Netherlands took smooth muscle cells (human source) from the lining of blood vessels, grew them in a lab dish, and found that the drug anti-diabetic drug rosiglitazone (Avandia-brand name) accelerates calcification in these cells, a mechanism that could help explain why Avandia is associated with adverse outcomes. 21816156

That Avandia use also leads to accelerated calcium loss from bone suggests another link to side effects caused by Avandia. It appears Avandia doesn’t initiate arterial calcifications but accelerates calcifications via decreased production of a key enzyme (alkaline phosphatase).

The researchers, writing in a current issue of the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, explain that resveratrol (res-vair-aw-trol), known as a red wine molecule, diminishes this calcifying effect at a dose that can be achieved with dietary supplements.

Resveratrol is already known to inhibit cholesterol plaque in arteries. The composition of arterial plaque is ~50-70% calcium and ~3-20% cholesterol. While resveratrol is known as a copper chelator (key-lay-tor) or binder, this is the first report of it serving as an anti-calcifying agent. Once again, resveratrol rides to the rescue and it is possible that resveratrol supplements need to be added to the anti-diabetic regimens of the estimated 600,000 Avandia users. – © 2011 Bill Sardi, ResveratrolNews.com Not for posting on other websites.