Resveratrol

Resveratrol’s popular association with the prevention of cardiovascular disease is primarily due to the idea that resveratrol is present in relatively high concentration in red wine, which is believed to be beneficial for the heart when consumed in moderation. Some research studies have found that people who drink a moderate level of red wine on a daily basis are significantly less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, compared to people who abstain from alcohol or drink in excess. Moderate consumption of alcohol has been observed to improve lipoprotein metabolism and lower cardiovascular mortality risk. The question of whether drinking red wine offers health benefits additional to those obtained from drinking other alcoholic drinks remains without a definite answer. While some studies have found that those who drink wine are at a lower risk of heart disease than those who drink beer or spirits, other studies have found no difference among the alcohol drinkers. It is proposed that the greater benefits that have been associated with consumption of wine is largely due to lifestyle characteristics of wine drinkers that contribute to an overall healthier life. These characteristics include low rates of smoking and obesity, and higher consumption of fruits and vegetables. Socioeconomic differences also play a part, as wine drinkers are more likely to have higher incomes and more education. Therefore, the attempt to determine the benefit of consuming red wine above other alcoholic drinks is a difficult one influenced by many factors.

The reason why red wine is the focus of much attention and research is that it contains polyphenols, of which resveratrol is one. Polyphenols have antioxidant properties and can also be found in green tea, fruits, and vegetables. Those present in red wine are derived from grape tannins and anthocyanin pigments. Studies on alcohol-free red wine given to mice have found that it significantly decreased atherosclerosis and prevented arterial thrombosis, both related to heart disease. A study was done in 2005 with human patients who had heart disease. Lekakis and his colleagues recruited 30 male patients who were given either a red grape polyphenol extract or a placebo. The study found that those patients who took the polyphenol extract had acute improved endothelial function, while those who took the placebo had no changes. The results of these studies appear promising. However, given the differing results across studies that have examined the benefits of red wine, further studies have yet to be done on humans to determine whether red wine has cardiovascular benefits in addition to those associated with its alcohol content.