Scientists at Harvard Medical School are studying a naturally occuring compound, resveratrol, for its possible benefits to weight loss, improved health, and anti-aging.

Resveratrol is found in nuts, wine, and grapes. At high doses, it has been found to prolong life spans and improve health- so far, just in mice, though human clinical trials are underway.

Mice who ingested a high fat, high calorie diet and then were given resveratrol were found to live longer than mice who ate the same diet, but were not given the resveratrol doses. In a separate study, mice given the compound lost weight, boosted their metabolism, and doubled their endurance in physical activity.

Funded in part by the National Institute on Aging, this study was published in the prestigious journals Nature and Cell in late 2006. Consumers have been snapping up bottles of resveratrol ever since; though researchers caution more data is needed to determine if high doses of resveratrol may cause damage humans.