In one word: maybe. In countries that consume substantial amounts of red wine, the prevalence of heart disease is lower than in countries that do not drink as much red wine. That’s why scientists and doctors have long thought there were heart-healthy ingredients in red wine.
Two new studies published in the July 2010 issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition continue to support what previous research has concluded: that a substance in red wine called resveratrol may protect against cardiovascular disease, as well as Type 2 diabetes, cancer and even neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Potential Benefits of Resveratrol in the Fight Against Heart Disease
In the new studies, the effects of resveratrol were conducted on human cells. In previous studies, lab tests were conducted on animals such as mice. Resveratrol is a type of antioxidant found in the skins of red grapes.
One of the two studies, conducted at the University of Ulm in Germany, tested the effects of resveratrol in vitro on human fat cells. Research determined that resveratrol blocked immature fat cells in adipose tissue from developing and affected their ability to function. Their findings also indicated that resveratrol stimulated the absorption of glucose into human fat cells and blocked molecules from converting into fat. In addition, resveratrol stimulated a protein called sirtuin 1, which is known to protect the heart from inflammation.
Based on these findings, it is possible that resveratrol might one day provide therapeutic benefits in the fight against obesity and the treatment of obesity-associated endocrine disorders such as Type 2 diabetes.
In the second study, conducted at the Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, researchers studied the effect of red wine on blood vessel function. Participants drank 8.5 ounces, or 2 servings, of red wine every day for 3 consecutive weeks. Based on blood samples provided at the beginning and end of the 3-week study, researchers found that red wine enhanced the health of the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels, which improved blood flow, and also decreased cell death.
The cumulative results of both studies indicate that resveratrol may help prevent heart disease both indirectly by acting on fat cells and directly by acting on endothelial cells.
Drink in Moderation
Studies have shown that moderate amounts of alcohol may help increase HDL (good) cholesterol, decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol and prevent blood clots. However, doctors are quick to warn that the claim of preventing heart disease is not a free pass to drink all the red wine you want. The harmful effects of too much alcohol can easily override any positive effects that alcohol may have. If you want to drink red wine, limit your intake to 10 ounces a day for men or 5 ounces a day for women.
Since resveratrol comes from the skin of grapes, you might also experience some of the ingredient’s positive benefits simply by eating grapes or drinking grape juice. However, it is not yet known just how this might compare to drinking red wine when it comes to protecting against heart disease.
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