Are you lacking in energy? It could be you have a deficiency in the protein sirtuin-1 (SirT1).
SirT1 plays an important role in regulating the body’s metabolism, according to a new study by York University researchers.
“Mitochondria must function well to generate the energy for muscle contraction and to regulate normal metabolism in the whole body,” says lead researcher 
Professor David A. Hood, Canada Research Chair in Cell Physiology in the Faculty of Health’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science.
David A. Hood
“Poor fat breakdown and impaired carbohydrate metabolism, leading to insulin-resistant conditions like obesity and Type 2 diabetes, can be caused by the absence of SirT1,” says Hood, director of York’s Muscle Health Research Centre. “This can result in lower mitochondrial content and poor mitochondrial function.”
What the study found, however, is that regular exercise can help improve mitochondrial content in the muscle, even when SirT1 is absent.
The study, SirT1-mediated effects on mitochondrial biogenesis, was published this week in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
It also looked at the therapeutic potential of Resveratrol (RSV), an antioxidant compound commonly found in red wine and an activator of SirT1. The results suggest regular exercise, along with dietary RSV, can have beneficial effects on people with Type 2 diabetes or who are obese.