CANADA: Glass Of Red Wine Or One Drink May Help Heart Health, More May Do Harm, Shows Study

TORONTO (The Canadian Press), February 12, 2008: Red wine has been touted as beneficial for cardiovascular health, but new research suggests that while one glass of that favourite Merlot or Shiraz may indeed be heart healthy, two or more could actually do more harm than good over time. Furthermore, those good and bad effects on the heart and blood vessels aren't restricted just to red wine, but also apply to any kind of alcoholic drink, says principal investigator Dr. John Floras, director of cardiology research at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre in Toronto. Several large population studies have suggested light or moderate alcohol drinking has a protective effect on the heart; red wine, which contains antioxidant polyphenols, is thought to have particular benefits. These studies found lower rates of heart disease, despite high-fat diets, among some European populations that regularly consume red wine. Widely known as the "French paradox," the phenomenon has created huge interest in how the libation might stave off cardiovascular disease. In the Toronto study, Floras said tests on volunteers showed that drinking a single glass of red wine or an amount of ethanol (pure alcohol) equal to that found in a beer or a serving of spirits did indeed have potentially helpful effects on the heart and blood vessels. However, after a second drink the heart rate, amount of blood being pumped in the body, and sympathetic nervous system action all increased, the study said. At this point, researchers said that blood vessels became less able to expand in response to increased blood flow, reversing any beneficial effects obtained by a consumer after a single serving of wine or alcohol. By Sheryl Ubelacker, Health Reporter, THE CANADIAN PRESS Read more © 2008 Bell Canada, Microsoft Corporation