A glass of wine a day could help keep heart disease at bay, according to a study. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, found that consuming a small or moderate amount of wine can reduce the risk of severe cardiovascular disease in some individuals.
The study, led by Professor Ramon Estruch from the University of Barcelona and the Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Spain, was part of a larger Spanish investigation into the effects of a Mediterranean diet on those with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
The researchers didn’t just take participants’ word for it – they used chemical tests to determine exactly how much wine they were actually drinking.
All participants were free of cardiovascular disease at the start of the study, but either had type-2 diabetes or a combination of cardiovascular disease risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, being overweight, or a family history of cardiovascular disease.
Participants in the study were asked to fill out questionnaires about their dietary habits and provide urine samples at the start of the research and after a year of sticking to a Mediterranean diet. Tartaric acid, a compound naturally present in grapes and grape-based products like wine, can be detected in urine, indicating whether someone has consumed wine or grapes in the past five to six days, reports Surrey Live.
To examine the impact of wine consumption, the researchers included a total of 1,232 participants in the study. These individuals were monitored for four to five years.
During this period, there were 685 instances of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, coronary revascularisations, strokes, or deaths due to cardiovascular disease. The researchers discovered that light-to-moderate wine consumption, defined as half to one glass of wine per day, reduced the risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event by 50% among this group of high-risk individuals who were following a Mediterranean diet.
Light drinking (between one glass per week and less than half a glass per day) lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease by 38%. However, this protective effect vanished in those who drank more than one glass per day.
Professor Estruch said: “By measuring tartaric acid in the urine, alongside food and drink questionnaires, we have been able to make a more accurate measurement of wine consumption. We have found a much greater protective effect of wine than that observed in other studies. A reduction in risk of 50% is much higher than can be achieved with some drugs, such as statins.
“This study demonstrates the importance of moderate wine consumption within a healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet. Until now, we believed that 20% of the effects of the Mediterranean diet could be attributed to moderate wine consumption; however, in light of these results, the effect may be even greater.
“The participants in our study were older people at high risk of cardiovascular disease living in a Mediterranean country, so the results may not apply to other populations. Another key question is at what age moderate wine consumption could be considered ‘acceptable’. Recent studies indicate that the protective effects of wine consumption are observed starting from the age of 35 to 40. It is also important to note that moderate consumption for women should always be half that of men, and it should be consumed with meals.”
Commenting on the findings, Prof Paul Leeson, Consultant Cardiologist and Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford, said: “People often say that ‘wine is good for the heart’ but we also know too much wine is ‘not good for the heart’. So how do we judge what the right amount might be
“Existing research has often relied on studying what people report they drink and, for lots of reasons, self-reported wine consumption may not be accurate. The major strength of this study is that they have used a chemical measure in the urine to quantify how much wine was being consumed, rather than what someone says they are drinking.
“The study shows that drinking somewhere between three and, at most, 35 glasses of wine a month was associated with a reduction in risk. Anything over this amount and the benefit disappeared.
“So, no more than a bottle of wine a week, or, at most, 10 Units of alcohol. Another important thing to remember is that the study still just reports an association. There may be other things that people who consume this amount of wine did in the study that helped reduce their risk.
“For one thing, the study was performed in people who were also eating a heart-healthy diet. Maybe the health advantages of a glass of wine are only seen when being drunk alongside a plate of Mediterranean food?”.
Tracy Parker, Senior Dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, also issued a warning saying: “While the study suggests that low to moderate wine consumption may lower CVD risk, it is not the all clear to crack open a bottle of red wine. It is important to note that this finding shows an association, not causation. Further research is needed to establish a definitive link.
“It is well-documented that excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to heart health. Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of heart and circulatory conditions, such as high blood pressure and vascular dementia, as well as liver problems and certain cancers.
“The study supports the UK’s current guidelines, which advise no more than 14 units of alcohol per week to minimise health risks. This is equivalent to six pints of beer or six small glasses of wine.
“There are healthier ways to protect your heart and overall health. These include – eating a balanced diet, such as the Mediterranean style diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking.”
