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The team from the University of Barcelona studied the health of Spanish residents who follow a Mediterranean diet, which is known to include a small glass of wine with dinner. Researchers concluded that a modest daily dose of this beverage may protect the heart.
They examined the effects of consuming half to one glass of wine per day among volunteers aged 60 and older who were at risk for heart disease. The results showed that the risk of heart attack and stroke in these participants was reduced by 50 percent compared to those who did not drink wine.
However, this protective effect disappeared in individuals who consumed more than one glass of wine per day, according to lead author Dr. Ramon Estruch.
“This study explored the importance of moderate wine consumption within a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet,” Dr. Estruch noted. “We previously believed that 20 percent of the Mediterranean diet’s effect could be attributed to moderate wine consumption; however, in light of these results, the effect may be even greater,” he added.
How Was the Study Conducted and What Criticism Did It Receive?
This scientific work, the results of which were published in the European Heart Journal, is part of a large ongoing Spanish study examining the impact of the Mediterranean diet on individuals at risk for heart disease. The current study involved 1,232 participants who had type 2 diabetes or risk factors such as tobacco use, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, and/or a family history of heart disease.
At the beginning of the study, volunteers were asked about their typical food and drink consumption, according to CNN. They also provided urine samples to measure the level of tartaric acid. This chemical, which is excreted in urine, is found in grape products like wine. After a year of following the Mediterranean diet, participants were tested again. If they had consumed grapes or wine in the last five days, the test would indicate this.
“By measuring the level of tartaric acid in urine, we were able to more accurately assess wine consumption,” Dr. Estruch explained.
Meanwhile, Kevin McConway, one of the critics of the Spanish researchers and an honorary professor at The Open University in Milton Keynes, UK, who did not participate in the study, remarked: “A significant portion of the variation in tartaric acid levels may be due to other factors, such as the possibility that not all respondents honestly reported how much they drank, or that there is a time lag between reporting alcohol consumption and measuring tartaric acid levels, or that the level of tartaric acid is also influenced by the consumption of other foods and certain processes in the body.”
Critics of the study also argue that it does not take into account the well-known harms of alcohol, including wine, on health.
“People often say that ‘wine is good for the heart,’ but we also know that too much wine is not good for the heart,” said Paul Leeson, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford, who did not participate in the study.
Navid Sattar, a professor of cardiometabolic medicine and honorary consultant at the University of Glasgow, advised against consuming wine or any other alcohol for the sake of good health.
Tracy Parker, a leading dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, is convinced that there are much healthier ways to protect one’s body than consuming alcohol. For example, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and quitting smoking.
