The Heart-Healthy Debate on Wine Consumption

Commentary by Dr. Donald Greig

Drinking a bottle of wine a week could be as good for you as taking statins, the researchers said

As the festive season closes save for Hogmany, many of us might find ourselves reaching for that comforting glass of wine. Recent research from the University of Barcelona offers some intriguing insights that could bring a smile to those nursing holiday hangovers. This study suggests that enjoying a glass of red or white wine each evening might not just be a delightful indulgence, but could also significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Published in the European Heart Journal, the research analyzed the health of 1,232 Spanish adults, averaging 69 years of age, who were at high risk for heart disease. Over the five-year study period, participants provided urine samples to gauge their wine consumption and followed a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, vegetables, and fish. The findings were striking: those consuming three to seven glasses of wine per week had a 50% lower risk of experiencing heart-related issues compared to non-drinkers. Even moderate drinkers, enjoying one to three glasses weekly, saw a 38% reduction in risk.

However, before we toast to these findings, it's essential to acknowledge the complexities surrounding alcohol consumption. The study highlights a protective effect for those drinking up to one glass daily, but this benefit diminishes rapidly for those exceeding that limit. In fact, heavy drinking is well-documented to have adverse effects on heart health, leading to conditions like high blood pressure, vascular dementia, and other serious ailments.

This scientific controversy is one that some of us may find ourselves overly invested in. While the allure of wine as a heart-healthy choice is enticing, it's crucial to consider the broader context. The Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes whole foods and healthy fats, plays a significant role in these positive outcomes. Therefore, attributing heart health solely to wine might oversimplify the issue.

As we celebrate and enjoy our favourite holiday beverages, moderation remains key. While the research offers some cheer, especially for those of us who enjoy a glass of wine, it's important to balance this with a holistic approach to health that includes a nutritious diet and regular physical activity.

So, as you pour that festive glass, remember: it's not just about the wine, but the lifestyle that accompanies it. Cheers to health—both heart and soul!

Source

A glass of wine a night can halves risk of heart attack and stroke

Article by Eleanor Hayward

It is a scientific controversy which some of us are perhaps a little bit too invested in. Now, a study claims to have solved the ongoing puzzle of whether or not wine is good for your heart — and the results will provide some cheer for anyone nursing a festive hangover.

A team at the University of Barcelona found that a glass of wine every night halves the risk of suffering heart attacks and strokes compared with people who don’t drink.

They said drinking a bottle of wine a week could be as good for you as taking statins, the cholesterol lowering drugs, and that wine — red or white — has a “much greater protective effect” than previously thought.

While previous studies into the topic have relied on people self-reporting how much wine they drink, the new research used a “more objective and reliable measure” of testing the amount of a chemical called tartaric acid in participants’ urine.

Tartaric acid is a chemical naturally found in grapes, which can be measured in urine to show how much wine someone has consumed over the previous five to six days.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, looked at 1,232 Spanish adults who were at high risk of heart disease and were aged 69 on average. They gave urine samples to measure their wine consumption, and were also put on a Mediterranean diet, involving lots of olive oil, vegetables and fish. Over a five-year period there were 685 cases of heart attacks, strokes or heart disease-related deaths.

Participants in the study were also put on a Mediterranean diet, involving lots of olive oil, vegetables and fish

Compared with non-drinkers, those who had between three and seven glasses of wine each week had a 50 per cent lower risk, which researchers said provides “compelling” evidence wine can help your heart. Meanwhile, those who drank one to three glasses a week were at 38 per cent lower risk of heart disease.

However, the protective effect of wine disappeared in anyone drinking more than one glass a day.

Professor Ramon Estruch, lead author of the study, 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 per cent is much higher than can be achieved with some drugs, such as statins.

“This study examines the importance of moderate wine consumption within a healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet. Until now, we believed that 20 per cent 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.”

Estruch added that it was important wine was consumed during meals, and that women only needed to drink half the amount as men to get the same protective effects.

The study supports the UK’s current guidelines, which advise no more than 14 units of alcohol per week — the equivalent to six pints of beer or six small glasses of wine.

Professor Ramon Estruch said this study provides “compelling” evidence that wine can be good for your heart

The so-called “French paradox” of why Mediterranean countries known for their love of wine have lower rates of heart disease has puzzled scientists for decades. Some people have pointed to the antioxidant compounds called polyphenols which are found in high levels in wine, particularly red wine, and protect against chronic diseases.

However, other experts have pointed out there is “overwhelming evidence” that alcohol is bad for health. Professor Paul Leeson, a cardiologist based at 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?

“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, ten 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?”

Excessive alcohol consumption remains harmful to heart health, experts were keen to point out

Tracy Parker, a senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: “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 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.”