Red wine may help fight obesity

Researchers in the US have discovered a compound present in red wine that is able to prevent fat cells from developing.

Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, researchers from Purdue University, Indiana claim they’ve found that piceatannol blocks immature fat cells’ ability to develop and grow.

Similar in structure to resveratrol –- the compound vaunted as the heart-healthy agent in red wine — piceatannol is also thought to help protect the body against cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases.

A resveratrol supplement went on sale in the UK in 2011.

Resveratrol is converted to piceatannol in humans after consumption.

The new findings indicate that piceatannol could also play an important role in controlling obesity, after evidence that the compound acted as a fat blaster in young cells.

The compound blocks the pathways necessary for immature fat cells to mature and grow.

“Piceatannol actually alters the timing of gene expressions, gene functions and insulin action during adipogenesis, the process in which early stage fat cells become mature fat cells,” said lead researcher Kee-Hong Kim.

The new study said the compound was also found in grapes, blueberries and passion fruit.