It’s news worth raising a glass to.
Drinking a glass of wine a day could be more effective than statins in reducing your chances of having a heart attack, research suggests.
In the most compelling evidence to date, scientists found that those who drank moderate amounts as part of a Mediterranean diet could halve their risk of heart attacks.
While other studies have suggested that wine could have a protective effect on the heart, researchers said many are relying on self-reports.
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 at the start of the study and again a year later, which measured tartaric acid.
After four or five years of follow-up, there were 685 cases of heart disease, including heart attacks, strokes or deaths from cardiovascular disease.
They found that those who drank between 12 and 35 glasses of wine a month had a 50 percent lower risk compared to those who consumed one or fewer.
Recent studies indicate that the protective effects of wine begin between the ages of 35 and 40.
Drinking between three and 12 glasses of wine a month had a 38 percent lower risk of heart disease, according to the study, published in the European Heart Journal.
This compares with a risk reduction of about 30 percent for people taking statins.
But drinking more than this caused the heart health benefits to diminish, they found.
Professor Ramon Estruch, from the University of Barcelona, who led the study, said: “By measuring tartaric acid in urine, together with food and drink questionnaires, we have been able to make a more precise measurement of wine consumption.
‘We have discovered a much greater protective effect of wine than that observed in other studies.
‘A 50 percent risk reduction is much greater than what can be achieved with some medications, such as statins.
‘This study examines the importance of moderate wine consumption within a healthy dietary pattern, 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; however, in light of these results, the effect may be even greater.”
The NHS recommends that 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 of cardiovascular disease who lived in a Mediterranean country, so the results may not apply to other populations, they warned.
Another key question is at what age moderate wine consumption might be considered “acceptable,” Hey said, as recent studies indicate that the protective effects of wine begin around age 35 to 40.
Professor Estruch added: “It is also important to note that women’s moderate consumption should always be half that of men, and should be consumed with meals.”
Commenting on the findings, Professor Paul Leeson, consultant cardiologist and professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford, said the “main strength” of the study was the use of a chemical measure to quantify the amount of wine consumed. .
But he warned that other things could be at play, such as the known benefits of a Mediterranean diet rich in oily fish, fruits and vegetables, suggesting that wine may only have benefits when drunk with it.
He said: “The study shows that drinking between three and, at most, 35 glasses of wine a month is associated with a reduced risk.” Any amount above this amount and the benefit disappeared.
“So no more than one bottle of wine a week or, at most, 10 units of alcohol.”
He added: “Perhaps the health benefits of a glass of wine are only seen when drunk alongside a plate of Mediterranean food?”