The collaboration with the university’s Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre will include a series of human intervention studies that will assess the inter-relationships between obesity, gut health (through microbiota populations), systemic inflammation, cognitive function, cerebral blood-flow and peripheral blood-flow and how all of these factors can be modulated by resveratrol dietary supplementation.
Evolva said emerging evidence for a gut-brain axis that shows a symbiotic relationship between gut health and brain function coupled with research showing that consumption of polyphenols including resveratrol can have a positive prebiotic impact on microbiota populations is the basis for the studies.
It noted that while previous studies on resveratrol have suggested a beneficial effect on blood flow, cardiovascular health and cognitive function, no research has directly examined a potential interrelationship with gut microbiota.
The initial trial will include approximately 100 overweight and obese subjects with ages between 35 and 60 years, and will investigate this relationship.
Emma Wightman, principal supervisor of the project at Northumbria University added that the gut-brain axis represents “the most cutting edge area of human nutrition research” – adding that it is exciting that the research group at the university can continue working in the area with resveratrol.
“We are pleased to partner with Northumbria University using Veri-te resveratrol in this ground breaking research,” said Evolva senior vice president for resveratrol Angela Tsetsis. “Evolva continues to lead the way to increase the knowledge about the benefits of resveratrol for human health.”