Drinking wine can have beneficial effects on your blood cholesterol levels when consumed in moderation. Excessive wine consumption, however, can negatively affect triglyceride levels and increase your risk of heart disease. Public health authorities such as the American Heart Association do not recommend that you begin drinking wine for health benefits. Never substitute wine for traditional medical care and a healthy lifestyle.
Good Cholesterol
Consistent reports from research demonstrate a connection between drinking alcohol, including wine, and a significant increase in the good form of cholesterol known as high-density lipoprotein. HDL helps remove bad cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. In a June 1993 "American Journal of Public Health" study monitoring the consumption patterns of large groups of American adults, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said across all ages, races and gender, HDL increased the more people reported drinking alcohol. Daily drinking led to an average increase of 5.1 mg/dL of HDL cholesterol. European public health authorities report the same. In a study on the effects of red wine specifically, wine drinking was related to an 11 to 16 percent increase in HDL cholesterol over just four weeks. The study was reported in the March 2005 "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition."
Other Benefits
Wine's effects on cholesterol and other factors makes it somewhat protective against heart disease. The American Heart Association reports that moderate alcohol consumption has reduced risk of death from heart disease among certain populations. Although the primary benefits come from the ethyl alcohol content, scientists think other components of wine, such as antioxidants and flavonoids, may also produce this protective effect. If confirmed, grapes and grape juice may also confer some benefits. Alcohol may prevent platelets in blood from sticking together, which reduces the risk of clots forming and consequently, heart attack and stroke. The American Heart Association, however, questions whether it's wine alone that offers these benefits. Some studies, the AHA reports, prove that lifestyle also has a role. For example, some people in wine-cholesterol connection studies got lots of exercise, ate lots of fruits and vegetable and less saturated fat. These factors also decrease risk of cardiovascular death.
Negative Consequences
Although wine may have a good effect on your cholesterol, excessive drinking can still increase your risk of coronary heart disease. That's because too much drinking is associated with an increase in triglycerides. Triglycerides are a form of fat found in the blood, as well as food. High triglycerides damage your heart health because it raises high blood pressure and increases risk of heart failure. In addition, because triglycerides are found in high-calorie foods, they are linked with obesity and increased risk of diabetes. In addition to raising your triglycerides, drinking too much alcohol can seriously damage your liver, and it is a major source of extra calories. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010, alcoholic beverages are the fifth-biggest supplier of calories to American adults.
Moderation and Caution
Both the Dietary Guidelines and the American Heart Association caution Americans to moderate their alcohol intake. The heart association uses a standard of a 4-oz. glass of wine daily. It has the equivalent alcohol content of a 12-oz. beer or 1.5 oz. shot of 80-proof spirits. Talk with your doctor about your general health status when considering your alcohol intake, and know that you don't need to drink to lower your total cholesterol or raise your good cholesterol. Eating a healthy diet, getting exercise and taking aspirin or niacin are all factors within your control that help manage your cholesterol. In addition, some people shouldn't drink alcohol at all, either because of medical conditions or family or personal history of alcoholism. Your doctor is best positioned to give you concrete advice about drinking wine.
References
- American Heart Association: Alcoholic Beverages and Cardiovascular Disease
- "American Journal of Public Health"; High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Alcohol Consumption in US White and Black Adults: Data from NHANES II; Shai Lynn et al.; June 1993
- National Cholesterol Education Program; Your Guide to Lower Cholesterol with TLC; December 2005
- "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Effect of Red Wine and Red Grape Extract on Blood Lipids, Haemostatic Factors, and Other Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease; A.S. Hansen et al.; March 2005
- American Heart Association: Triglycerides
