VII. TYPE OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION A. Red Wine versus White Wine
Mild alcohol consumption causes a modest reduction in cardiovascular events. There has been considerable contro¬versy, however, regarding what type of alcoholic beverages provides the greatest cardioprotection. Studies of the French population indicate that wine, particularly red wine, offers greater protection. Studies in the UK and other countries indicate that beer is as good or even slightly better. Studies in the United States indicate that spirits are as good as wine.
In human volunteers a high-fat diet has been shown to induce endothelial dysfunction while red wine counteracts it. Reportedly, the acute administration of red wine reduces the increase in nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) responsible for promoting the expression of several inflammatory genes resulting from a high-fat meal. This effect was not observed for vodka.
The French, who eat rich food and drink more heavily than many other nationalities, have a much lower rate of heart disease events, the so-called French paradox (see the chapters Atherosclerosis/Atherothrombosis and Heart Attacks). Their high consumption of red wine appears to be the source of their cardioprotection. However, genetic factors may also be involved.
There appears to be significant differences between red and white wine. Red wine has a much higher content of the powerful antioxidants called polyphenols than white wine. These polyphenols appear to mop up oxygen free radicals that damage the arterial wall and may help to prevent damage caused by diabetes. French winemakers have recently increased levels of polyphenols in white wine by altering the wine-making process. They have done this by using white grapes that have a high polyphenol content and added more of the skins in which polyphenols are heavily concentrated. They softened the grapes for six days and the mixture was heated. This straw-yellow wine contains polyphenol levels four times higher than normal. Unfortunately, a controlled clinical trial to study the results of this new process is unlikely to take place.