SIRT1, (Silent Information Regulator Two (Sir2) or sirtuins are proteins argued to be responsible for delivering anti-aging attributes by altering a the length of a cells life span.

Researchers at MIT first discovered the effect the SIRT1 gene had on mammalian fat cells when short term receptors which detect famine were turned on, therefore initiating fat cells normally store fat, to metabolize or shred fat.

MIT Professor of Biology Leonard Guarente, who has been studying the aging process in yeast, roundworms and mice for more than a decade suggests that ...."For the first time, this study gives us a glimpse of how calorie restriction works at the molecular level. And it will ultimately lead to health benefits in people, no doubt about that".

Professor Leonard Guarente writes that this happens because the "Sirt1 protein activates a critical component of calorie restriction in mammals; that is, fat mobilization in white adipocytes. When hunger strikes the Sirt1 protein binds to and represses the genes that are controlled by PPAR- gamma, the fat regulator," therefore stopping fat from being stored in the body.

Guarente argues that ..."The ability of fat cells to sense short- term hunger and release the fat is regulated by this gene. We like to think this applies to people as well as mice, but we don't know for sure". Scientists state that if they could make this happen in humans, it wouldn't just make them live longer; it might also help prevent diseases of aging, like cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

A mammal generally burns the protein and carbohydrates in its food almost immediately; where it stores fat in special cells called white adipose tissue (WAT). When it reduces its caloric intake, the WAT stops storing fat and begins releasing it for metabolism.

Because WAT also makes hormones, notably leptin which controls satiety, Professor Guarente speculates that by putting hormones into the bloodstream, fat cells will also tell the body how fast to age.

Scientists know already fat or lack of it has vast implications in the lives of people, but by putting them on an austere diet like tests carried out on rodents, just isn't feasible. Dieting like animals undergo would mean cutting your calorie restriction by half, there it would be like eating once every two days.

However, Guarantee suggests if scientists could make a drug that would bind to Sirt1 and fool the body into thinking that it needed to release that fat, then maybe people could get the benefits of calorie restriction without the side effects,which is why both resveratrol and acai manufacturers believe they both offer a sort of fountain-of-youth drug as they both present with SIRT1 proteins.

For more information on resveratrol's number one anti-aging pill, see here, or alternatively for a review of our top acai based anti aging peptide cream, see here.