New York City, NY (PRWEB) January 24, 2012
According to a report published in the New York Times (1.) , Dr. Dipak Das, a researcher from the University of Connecticut, has been accused of faking data results on resveratrol research. A special review board, headed by Dr. Kent Morest of the University of Connecticut (2.) , has forwarded a 60,000 page report to the Office of Research Integrity, into Dr. Das conduct over the past few years.
It is alleged that Dr. Dipak Das, while a researcher at the University of Connecticut, engineered: “145 instances of fabrication and falsification of data. Many involved cutting and pasting of photographic images from a type of research tool known as a western blot,” according to the reports sixty page summary.
A spokesperson for Biotiva, a leading resveratrol manufacturer said: The press has had a field day this week highlighting falsified resveratrol studies conducted by this one lone researcher. Unfortunately, most of the press, with the exception of the more senior science reporters, are implying that the misbehavior of one researcher, a minor player at best, undermines the health and chemo-protective claims made for resveratrol. Although this makes for a dramatic headline, nothing is further from the truth. It is a shame that the press have failed to make the important distinction between resveratrol, as an important compound with proven health properties, and one relatively insignificant researcher who appears to have falsified data in a few studies on the compound.
Over two years ago, a scientist at Biotivia expressed concern over one study done by Dr. Das in a widely distributed published criticism of the researchers data: Biotivia, unlike some other manufacturers, has avoided any association with the scientist, instead preferring to collaborate with more reputable research organisations such as Harvard University, Northumbria University, Ottawa University, Torino University Medical School and the National Institutes of Health.
Resveratrols ability to prevent and even reverse the effects of human diseases including many cancers, cardiovascular conditions, inflammation, and type 2 diabetes, has been well established in over 6,000 peer-reviewed studies(3.) and trials since 1989. This is the reason It has been hailed in the press over the last five years as the next natural miracle molecule. Nothing Dr. Das has done undermines the thousands of legitimate results of other more reputable scientists into resveratrol.
A landmark study by Dr. Sinclair of Harvard (4.) University found that resveratrol activated an anti-aging gene array that helped to extend the lifespan of organisms from yeast, to fish, to mammals. The results of this study prompted GSK to buy Sirtis, Dr. Sinclairs company, for $ 720 million, and the race to harness resveratrols power began. Since then resveratrols extraordinary health promoting properties have been affirmed by many of the worlds most prestigious medical schools and research organisations.
Thousands of resveratrol studies have elucidated in detail resveratrols ability to inhibit the so-called disease of aging, and, as a consequence, improve the human health span. This is the number of years an individual lives free of the debilitating and costly conditions that can but do not necessarily accompany aging. Whether it extends human lifespan is questionable. It will take many more years of research to answer this question.
Amongst the many studies undertaken over the past 15 years, resveratrol has shown positive results results with respect to cognitive function, glucose intolerance, fitness, cancer prevention, and inhibition of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. In one acclaimed study (5.) by the Albert Einstein School of Medicine, it was found that resveratrol substantially improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, giving hope for a future treatment for diabetes. In another study resveratrol was as effective as the most commonly used pharmaceutical agent in reducing blood sugar levels, without any of the side effects of the drug.
Another study, undertaken by the University of Northumberland (6.) into cognitive decline, found that resveratrol more than doubled brain blood flow oftwenty-fouruniversity students in a double blind, peer-reviewed clinical trial. These results are leading to further research on treatments for Parkinsons Disease as well as Alzheimers, dementia and various other cognitive disorders.
James Betz, PhD, founder of resveratrol specialist firm Biotivia, commented: Its a shame to see the actions of one thoroughly disreputable researcher tarnishing the image of a molecule with such enormous health potential. We continue to support human clinical trials with many prestigious medical institutions. Over the pastfiveyears of such collaborations the results have been extremely impressive, and have withstood rigorous peer review by the scientific community. We are happy to put any of our claims under scrutiny and have had our products independently tested by organisations such as Consumer Lab, who have verified the purity and integrity of our resveratrol products. It is absurd that one researcher who was involved in less than one half of one percent of the studies on this molecule is being cited by the press to undermine the work of so many honest and capable scientists.
To read more about resveratrol and Biotivias credentials, visit http://www.biotivia.com/company/credentials.html
References
(1.)University Suspects Fraud by a Researcher Who Studied Red Wine
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/12/science/fraud-charges-for-dipak-k-das-a-university-of-connecticut-researcher.html
(2.) Scientific Journals Notified Following Research Misconduct Investigation
http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2012/01/scientific-journals-notified-following-research-misconduct-investigation/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+uconn-today+%28UConn+Today%29
(3.)Cancer Chemopreventive Activity of Resveratrol, a Natural Product Derived from Grapes
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/275/5297/218.short
Science 10 January 1997:
Vol. 275 no. 5297 pp. 218-220
DOI: 10.1126/science.275.5297.21
(4.)Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7117/full/nature05354.html
Nature 444, 337-342 (16 November 2006) | doi:10.1038/nature05354;
(5.)RESVERATROL LINKED TO POSITIVE IMPACT ON PREDIABETES
http://www.einstein.yu.edu/home/news.asp?id=545
(6.)Effects of resveratrol on cerebral blood flow variables and cognitive performance in humans
http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/4032/
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 91 (6). pp. 1590-1597. ISSN 0002-9165
About Biotivia LLC
Biotivia was constituted in 1992 in Vienna, Austria as a supplier of instinctive raw materials and biologically active botanics to the supplement and functional food industries and to researchers and scientific institutions worldwide. The company evolved into one of the world’s leading developers and suppliers of unique science-based nutritional supplements and award winning skin care therapies, with most of their products centered around the use of concentrated resveratrol and complementary botanical extracts.
Biotivia presently has US offices in New York, Los Angeles, Kansas City and international offices in the UK, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Singapore, Xi’an, China and Mumbai, India.
Beyond its strong consumer base, the company currently supplies researchers, physicians and scientists at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Georgetown, The Albert Einstein Medical Center, University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Health Canada, and the University of California. Transmax and Bioforte in particular
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