It’s news worth raising a glass to.
Research suggests that drinking a glass of wine a day may be more effective than statins in lowering the risk of heart attack.
In the most compelling 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 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.
In addition to completing questionnaires about their food and drink consumption, the 1,232 people involved provided samples measuring for tartaric acid at the start of the study and again a year later.
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 that those who drank between 12 and 35 glasses of wine each month had a 50 percent lower risk compared to those who drank one or less.
Recent studies indicate that the protective effects of wine begin around age 35 to 40.
According to the study, published in the European Heart Journal, drinking between three and 12 glasses of wine per month had a 38 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
This compares to a risk reduction of about 30 percent for people taking statins.
But drinking more than this reduced the heart health benefits, they found.
Professor Ramon Estruch, from the University of Barcelona who led the research, said: ‘By measuring tartaric acid in urine, in addition to food and drink questionnaires, we have been able to measure wine consumption more accurately.
‘We found a much greater protective effect of wine than has been observed in other studies.
‘A risk reduction of 50 percent 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 diet, such as the Mediterranean diet.
‘Until now we believed that 20 percent of the effects of the Mediterranean diet could be attributed to moderate wine consumption, but in light of these results the effect could be even greater.’
The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 ‘units’ of alcohol – around six glasses of wine or pints of beer – per week
The study participants were older people at high risk for cardiovascular disease who lived in a Mediterranean country, so the results may not apply to other populations, they cautioned.
Another important question is at what age moderate wine consumption can be considered “acceptable,” he says. Recent studies show that the protective effects of wine begin 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 should be consumed with meals.’
Commenting on the findings, Professor Paul Leeson, a cardiologist and professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford, said the ‘major strength’ of the study was the use of a chemical measure to quantify how much wine was consumed.
But he warned that other things could be at play – such as the well-known benefits of a Mediterranean diet rich in fatty fish, fruit and vegetables – suggesting that wine may only have benefits if consumed alongside it.
He said: ‘The research shows that drinking anywhere from three to up to 35 glasses of wine per month was associated with a reduction in risk. Anything above this amount and the benefit disappeared.
‘So no more than a bottle of wine per week, or a maximum of 10 units of alcohol.’
He added: ‘Perhaps the health benefits of a glass of wine are only seen when consumed alongside a plate of Mediterranean food?’