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According to a study involving multiple centers, light to moderate wine drinking is linked to a reduced risk of heart-related issues. This research was conducted by experts from the University of Barcelona, the Hospital Clínic, the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), the CIBEROBN (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition Networking Biomedical Research Centre), and the University of Navarra (UNAV). The findings, which appear in the European Heart Journal, are based on a biomarker for wine consumption known as tartaric acid, found in grapes. The analysis was performed on 1,232 participants from the PREDIMED study, a significant research initiative evaluating how the Mediterranean diet impacts heart health.
The researchers emphasize that while excessive alcohol intake can have severe health repercussions, the implications of moderate wine consumption remain under discussion in the scientific field. They believe that this study and similar ones should help clarify the role of moderate wine drinking as part of the Mediterranean diet, recognized as one of the healthiest dietary patterns globally.
The main authors of this study include Inés Domínguez from the University of Barcelona’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Professor Ramon Estruch from the same university’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and IDIBAPS, Rosa María Lamuela, an ICREA Academia professor affiliated with INSA, and Professor Miguel Ángel Martínez from the University of Navarra (UNAV), all of whom are connected to CIBEROBN.
Debate over Wine’s Health Effects
Currently, there is considerable debate surrounding the health impacts of moderate alcohol consumption, especially when it comes to wine. Ramon Estruch highlights that “part of the ongoing debate arises from mixed results, with some studies indicating wine’s protective benefits while others do not.” Such discrepancies may stem from errors in how wine consumption is recorded. “Epidemiological research that evaluates the impact of wine on cardiovascular events commonly relies on self-reported consumption data. Although these figures can be reliable, they may also be affected by inaccuracies in memory or social bias about drinking,” he points out. To address this challenge, the researchers of this study used food intake frequency surveys and validated the wine consumption data with an objective biomarker: the presence of tartaric acid in urine, a compound primarily found in grapes and not commonly produced by other plants.
While overindulging in alcohol can lead to severe health issues, this new multicenter study presents fresh evidence suggesting that consuming between half a glass to a full glass of wine daily may lower the risk of heart ailments.
Reduction in Risk by 38% to 50%
This study utilized the mentioned methodology to investigate the correlation between wine consumption and heart-related health outcomes among PREDIMED participants. A total of 1,232 individuals were assessed, including 685 patients who experienced cardiovascular events (such as death from heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, or heart failure) and 625 who were selected at random.
Data analysis indicates that light wine consumption (ranging from one glass a week to less than half a glass daily) leads to a 38% decreased chance of cardiovascular complications. This percentage increases to 50% with moderate consumption (between half a glass and one glass daily). However, the protective benefit vanishes when consumption exceeds one drink per day, and the researchers caution that “when referring to moderate wine intake, it is always recommended to drink it with meals, not between them.”
Need for Further Research
Despite these insights, Inés Domínguez notes that “the observational nature of the study restricts our ability to draw definitive causative conclusions,” and experts stress the necessity for additional research. “The findings from cohort studies should always be verified for greater accuracy.” They point out two potential guidelines for future research: one involves conducting randomized nutritional intervention studies that assign participants to various wine consumption groups. “These kinds of studies are costly to implement. There is currently one in progress, but results will take another four to five years,” they add. The second avenue would be to investigate the underlying mechanisms that allow wine to protect cardiovascular health, focusing on the anti-inflammatory properties of wine polyphenols like resveratrol and other phenolic compounds. “Understanding these mechanisms will greatly enhance the credibility of the epidemiological cohort study results,” they conclude.
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