New research suggests that light to moderate wine consumption may reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people at high risk who follow a Mediterranean diet.
Published in the European Heart Journal, the study highlights a potential protective effect of wine when consumed in small amounts as part of a heart-healthy diet.
The study, led by Professor Ramon Estruch of the University of Barcelona, used a novel method to measure wine intake by analyzing levels of tartaric acid in urine samples.
Tartaric acid is naturally found in grapes and wine, providing an objective way to track recent wine consumption, unlike traditional methods that rely on self-reported drinking habits.
Participants in the study were part of a larger project investigating the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, known for its emphasis on olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, and minimal processed foods.
All participants were over 50 and considered at high risk for CVD due to conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, or a family history of heart disease. None had cardiovascular disease at the start of the study.
A total of 1,232 participants were included in this analysis, and they were followed for four to five years. During this time, 685 participants experienced cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular-related deaths.
Researchers found that people who drank light to moderate amounts of wine experienced significantly lower risk compared to those who drank little or no wine.
Specifically, those consuming half to one glass of wine per day reduced their risk of a cardiovascular event by 50%. Even light drinking—defined as one glass per week to less than half a glass per day—lowered the risk by 38%.
However, the protective effect disappeared in individuals drinking more than one glass per day, emphasizing the importance of moderation.
The study found that moderate wine consumption, when paired with the Mediterranean diet, may contribute more to heart health than previously believed.
“A reduction in risk of 50% is much higher than can be achieved with some drugs, such as statins,” noted Professor Estruch. He added that moderate wine consumption may account for a larger share of the Mediterranean diet’s benefits than earlier studies suggested.
However, the researchers emphasized that the findings are specific to the study population—older adults living in a Mediterranean country—and may not apply to younger people or those in other parts of the world.
Professor Estruch also noted that women should consume half the amount of wine compared to men and that wine should always be consumed with meals to minimize risks.
An editorial accompanying the study, led by Professor Giovanni de Gaetano from IRCCS NEUROMED in Italy, highlighted the importance of using biomarkers like urinary tartaric acid for accurate measurement.
While the findings are promising, de Gaetano and colleagues acknowledged that studying alcohol’s effects on health remains challenging due to the complexity of drinking habits, lifestyle factors, and interactions with other foods.
The editorial also pointed out the risks of excessive alcohol consumption and stressed that the benefits observed in this study are limited to light-to-moderate wine drinking. Future research, the authors suggested, should explore how biomarkers and dietary patterns interact to shape health outcomes.
This study reinforces the potential role of moderate wine consumption as part of a heart-healthy Mediterranean diet while emphasizing the need for caution and moderation.
For individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease, incorporating light wine drinking within the broader context of a balanced diet may offer meaningful health benefits.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease, and coconut sugar could help reduce artery stiffness.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that Vitamin D deficiency can increase heart disease risk, and results showing vitamin B6 linked to lower death risk in heart disease.
The research findings can be found in the European Heart Journal.
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