It's news worth raising a glass to.
Drinking a glass of wine a day may be more effective than statins at reducing the chances of a heart attack, research suggests.
In the most convincing evidence yet, scientists found that those who drank moderate amounts as part of a Mediterranean diet could cut their risk of heart attacks by half.
While other studies have suggested that wine may have a protective effect on the heart, the researchers stressed that many of them are based on self-reports.
Instead of simply asking people how much they consumed, this was the first study to use measurements of a key biomarker from urine samples.
In addition to completing questionnaires about their food and drink consumption, the 1,232 participants provided samples at the start of the study and a year later, where tartaric acid was measured.
After four or five years of follow-up, there were 685 cases of heart disease, including heart attacks, strokes or death from cardiovascular disease.
They found that those who drank between 12 and 35 glasses of wine per month had a 50% lower risk compared to those who consumed one glass or less.
Drinking 3 to 12 glasses of wine per month reduced the risk of heart disease by 38%, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal, GazetaExpress reports.
This compares to a risk reduction of about 30% for those taking statins.
However, drinking more than this showed that the heart benefits began to disappear.
"By measuring tartaric acid in urine, together with food and drink questionnaires, we have managed to make a more accurate measurement of wine consumption," said Professor Ramon Estruch, from the University of Barcelona, who led the study.
We found a much greater protective effect of wine than that observed in other studies.
A 50% risk reduction is much higher than can be achieved with some medications, such as statins.
This study examines the importance of moderate wine consumption within a healthy eating pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet.
Until now, we believed that 20% 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."
They cautioned that the participants were elderly people at high risk for cardiovascular disease living in Mediterranean countries, so the results may not apply to other populations.
Another important question is at what age moderate wine consumption can be considered “acceptable.” According to recent studies, the protective effects of wine begin around the age of 35 to 40.
"It is also important to note that moderate consumption for women should always be half that for men and should be consumed during meals," added Professor Estruch.
Commenting on the findings, Professor Paul Leeson, a cardiologist and professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford, said the "main strength" of the study was the use of a chemical measurement to determine the amount of wine consumed.
However, he cautioned that other factors may have played a role – such as the well-known benefits of the Mediterranean diet, rich in fish, fruit and vegetables – suggesting that wine may only have benefits when consumed alongside this.
"The study shows that drinking anywhere between 3 and, at most, 35 glasses of wine per month was associated with a reduction in risk. Any amount above that and the benefit disappeared," he said.
"So no more than one bottle of wine a week or, at most, 10 units of alcohol."
"Perhaps the health benefits of a glass of wine are only seen when accompanied by a plate of Mediterranean food," he added. /Express newspaper/
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