Sirtuins: what are they and what do they do?

SirtuinsSirtuins are proteins expressed by SIRT genes that perform an enzymatic activity, which means they stimulate chemical reactions essential for the body. Their function has been ascertained by several studies, although there still seems to be a lot to know about them. SIRTs in short:
• are proteins with enzymatic properties
• regulate the metabolic processes related to insulin resistance
• have a control over immunity
• have a fundamental role in epigenetics
• are involved in defences against cancer
are proteins with enzymatic properties that occur naturally in our bodies. Produced by a family of genes called SIRTs, also called longevity genes, sirtuins perform several functions, most aimed at ensuring the survival of the organism. In particular, sirtuins regulate a number of metabolic processes: they act directly on insulinHormone produced by Langerhans island cells of the pancreas. It stimulates the entry of glucose into the cells, subtracting it from the blood and thus lowering blood sugar. It induces the use of glucose both to produce energy and for the synthesis of glycogen and fats. resistance, play a controlling role in immunity and epigeneticsLiterally "above genetics." This term refers to all biochemical processes which, without modifying the DNA sequence, affect the expression of genes, both "switching them on" and "switching them off"., and are also important for cardiac health and the functioning of circadian rhythms. Their action, overall, aims to reduce cell replication activity, consequently slowing down the aging process and preventing some related diseases, such as cancers, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases.

How to stimulate the “production” of sirtuins?

Sirtuin synthesis occurs through stimulation of SIRT genesFamily composed by 7 genes important for the regulation of the metabolic processes of the cell, in particular responsible for its survival in particular risky conditions (low temperature, physical stress and fasting). Also called Longevity Genes., which go into action in response to threats or metabolic stress conditions. The three main ways to stimulate SIRT genes and promote sirtuin synthesis are: starvation, cold, and physical risk. It is no coincidence that some strategies for promoting longevity mimic these stressful conditions: calorie restriction (or intermittent fasting), cryotherapy, and physical activity trick the body into activating sirtuin genes to promote survival.

What foods activate sirtuins?

Research is still in its infancy, but some preliminary data suggest that consumption of specific foods can stimulate sirtuin production and lead to clear health benefits for the body. The Sirt diet is based precisely on reducing caloric intake combined with the intake of particular foods, thus leveraging biochemical stimuli to enhance sirtuin synthesis. We have, in addition, interesting information about the anti-aging properties of certain molecules in foods.

For example, resveratrol is a naturally occurring molecule found in many foods, such as grapes, and is able to activate sirtuins and allow the cell to live longer. Another example is vitamin B3, or rather its form called nicotinamide riboside (NRIt is called nicotinamide riboside, or Nr a form of vitamin B3 that promises to block the aging of internal organs, having a positive effect on the functioning of stem cells and the ability of organs to regenerate., found in meat, fish, mushrooms, oilseeds, vegetables, and spices), which has a positive effect on stem cell function and the ability of organs to regenerate. These are safe molecules with proven beneficial properties, which is why they are included in dietary supplement and nutraceuticalNutraceutical is a syncratic neologism from "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical" coined by Stephen de Felice in 1989. Nutraceuticals are those nutrients contained in foods that have beneficial effects on health, their effectiveness has been proven by clinical trials. formulas.

Are there supplements to stimulate sirtuins?

In the nutraceutical world, dietary supplements can be used to stimulate sirtuins. Some, for example, act on glucose levels to modulate the insulin pathway, that is, the set of biochemical reactions that allow glucose to be converted into energy. Another strategy, however still experimental, aims to reduce protein synthesis (the mTorThe mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) is a set of enzymes (route) that react to food-nutrients, breaking them down and recombining them to build new proteins useful for the "growth of the body". They react to specific hormonal stimuli (Insulin and IGF-1) thus becoming the center of control of growth and cell proliferation in metabolism. This metabolic route is also responsible for the elimination of old and defective cells (Cellular Autophagy) with the double advantage of recycling the fundamental components to produce new cells and eliminate them to prevent them from triggering degenerative and inflammatory processes. pathway). Finally, the last approach involves the AMPKAMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) stands for monophosphate-activated adenosine protein kinase. It is an enzyme that plays a critical role in cellular homeostasis and a signaller of the body's energy level: it signals whether there is enough in the body to activate cellular functions such as glucose absorption, fat oxidation, and the formation of new mitochondria. In case the energy is not enough, it stops the activity of creation of macro-molecules by pausing the production activity. The AMPK way is a "metabolic regulator". modulator pathway, a “metabolic regulator” enzyme that signals the body’s energy level. If AMPK is activated, it means that energy levels are low. Activation of AMPK, therefore, progressively reduces cellular activity, keeping it at a minimum: the cell, in this way, reduces its activities and lives longer.

False myths: sirtuins make you lose weight

Activation of sirtuins does not promote weight loss. Weight loss is related to calorie restriction, which has the additional effect of activating sirtuins. It is not the sirtuins that mediate weight loss. In other words, weight loss is the “child” of calorie restriction and the “sibling” of sirtuin activation. The fact that they can occur simultaneously, then, is because they both originate from caloric restriction.