It’s news that’s worth raising a glass to.
Drinking a glass of wine a day could be more effective than statins at lowering the chances of a heart attack, research suggests.
In the most compelling evidence to date, scientists found that those who drank moderate amounts as part of a Mediterranean diet could slash their risk of heart attacks by half.
While other studies have suggested vino could have a protective effect on the heart, researchers said many rely on self-reporting.
Instead of simply asking people how much they consumed, this was the first to use measurements of a key biomarker from urine samples.
As well as completing questionnaires on their food and drink consumption, the 1,232 people involved provided samples at the start of the study and again one year later which measured for tartaric acid.
After four or five years of follow up, there were 685 cases of heart disease, including heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular disease.
They found those who drank between 12 and 35 glasses of wine each month had a 50 per cent lower risk compared to those who consumed one or less.
Drinking between three and 12 glasses of wine each month had a 38 per cent lower risk of heart disease, according to the study, which has been published in the European Heart Journal.
This compares to a risk reduction of around 30 per cent for people taking statins.
But drinking more than this saw the heart health benefits diminish, they found.
Professor Ramon Estruch, from the University of Barcelona who led 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.’
Those in the study were older people at high risk of cardiovascular disease living in a Mediterranean country, so the results may not apply to other populations, they warned.
Another key question is at what age moderate wine consumption could be considered ‘acceptable’, hey said, with recent studies indicate that the protective effects of wine start around the age of 35 to 40.
Professor Estruch added: ‘It is also important to note that moderate consumption for women should always be half that of men, and it should be consumed with meals.’
Commenting on the findings, Professor Paul Leeson, consultant cardiologist and professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford, said the ‘major strength’ of the study was using a chemical measure to quantify how much wine was being consumed.
But he cautioned other things could be at play – such as the known benefits of a Mediterranean diet which is rich in oily fish, fruits and vegetables – suggesting wine may only have benefits when drank alongside this.
He said: ‘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, 10 units of alcohol.’
He added: ‘Maybe the health advantages of a glass of wine are only seen when being drunk alongside a plate of Mediterranean food?’
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