Is Moderate Alcohol Consumption Justified?

Every holiday is an occasion to raise a toast. Often, however, a glass of wine, a mug of beer or a little concentrate lifts the mood, helps us relax or gives a different flavor to dinner. In addition to the pleasure it brings, alcohol has other benefits - it can be good for our health. However, the line between its benefits and harms is thin and proving any beneficial effect should not justify its unwise use.

The specification of this limit is the basis of many clinical studies. Some of them state the advantages of consuming each type of alcohol and do not find statistically significant differences in favor of one or another drink [AL Klatsky et al.]. However, most prove lower cardiovascular morbidity among moderate consumers of red wine. The reason for these studies was the observations of epidemiologists that the French, known as fans of wine, but let's not forget - good food, are among the nations with the best indicators in terms of cardiovascular disease.

These epidemiological data provoked the search for the cause of the favorable results and even gave hope for the isolation of substances from red wine, on the basis of which to create means to control atherosclerosis. It is the latter that is the leading cause of ischemic heart disease. Then the desired effects of red wine should be antioxidant, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, improvement in lipid status and control of insulin resistance is expected.

Two types of polyphenols with antioxidant effect have been isolated from red wine - flavonoids and neflavonoids. They are found in various plants and their fruits, but their level is especially high in the skins, leaves and stems of grapes and the wine they produce. Resveratrol is among the most studied nephlavonoids, a proven phytoestrogen with antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory action. It is also considered to have an anti-carcinogenic effect, but in this aspect not all authors are unanimous so far.

In addition to resveratrol, other polyphenols deserve attention. Proanthocyanidins, a precursor of the well-known tannins, have a strong antioxidant and antiplatelet effect. In addition, they contribute to the inhibition of the formation of nitrosamines and other nitro compounds with adverse effects [John F. Tomera et al]. Other flavonoids such as catechins have also been studied for vascular protective action [J. Robinson].

Not only the content of polyphenols in grapes is higher than in other fruits. Red wine has advantages over white in connection with the peculiarities in the production and preservation of the husks of the dawn. The combination with alcohol in wine has an additive effect [N. Al-Awwadi].

Among the most serious risk factors for ischemic heart disease are disorders of lipid and glycemic control. Experts are encouraged in this regard - taking up to two drinks a day can reduce hypertriglyceridemia and reduce insulin resistance, observed in metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus [MJ Davies]. However, not all authors support this fact.

The fight against atherosclerosis is complex. It should address all risk factors simultaneously. Proving the beneficial effect of alcohol consumption, in particular red wine, should not be a reason to abandon the advice of doctors and nutritionists. In addition, each author defines "moderate consumption" differently - from one glass a day to 2-3 glasses a week, which gives the reader the freedom to determine the appropriate amount for him - sometimes inappropriate. There is no reason for complete abstainers to be encouraged to resort to alcohol in order to be healthy.