The right dose is important.
A recent study published in the European Heart Journal suggests that moderate wine consumption may significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. People who drank between half a glass and one glass of wine daily had a 50% lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, or heart disease compared to those who abstained from alcohol. Even lighter consumption, such as one glass per week or less than half a glass daily, resulted in a 38% reduction in heart risk. However, the protective effects diminished for those who consumed more than one glass of wine per day.
The study, which tracked over 1,200 participants for up to five years, used an innovative method to measure wine intake by analyzing tartaric acid levels in urine, a chemical found in grapes and wine. This approach provided more reliable data than previous studies, which often relied on self-reported alcohol consumption, which can be inaccurate. The study found that light-to-moderate wine consumption was especially beneficial for individuals at high risk of heart disease following a Mediterranean diet.
Dr. Ramon Estruch, the lead researcher from the University of Barcelona, highlighted that the observed benefits were stronger than those seen in previous research, with a 50% reduction in risk being greater than what some medications like statins can offer. Estruch noted that moderate wine consumption could account for a larger share of the Mediterranean diet’s heart-protective effects than previously thought.
Despite these promising findings, Estruch emphasized that the study was conducted on older individuals at high risk for heart disease in Spain, so the results may not apply universally. He also suggested that moderate wine consumption could be beneficial starting from age 35 or 40, with women advised to consume half the amount of wine that men do. The study’s results could influence future public health recommendations regarding alcohol consumption.
The editorial accompanying the study praised the use of urinary tartaric acid as a biomarker, calling it a significant advancement in alcohol research. This method provides a more accurate and objective measure of wine consumption, which could help clarify the ongoing debates about alcohol’s effects on health and lead to more reliable public health guidelines.
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