Acute ingestion of red wine by men activates platelets but does not influence endothelial markers: no effect of white wine.
Long-term moderate alcohol use is associated with a better cardiovascular risk profile than total abstinence, although the short-term effect of a bolus of alcohol is unclear. The hypothesis tested in this study was that an acute bolus of alcohol would adversely affect the endothelium and platelets. Blood was taken before and 4 h after the ingestion of red or white wine by nine volunteers per group, and by 11 control water-only drinkers at the same time points. Plasma was obtained and markers of platelet activity (beta-thromboglobulin and soluble P selectin) and endothelial cell function (von Willebrand factor and soluble thrombomodulin) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The only marker to change significantly was beta-thromboglobulin, which increased from a median of 10 ng/ml (interquartile range, 8.5-15) before drinking red wine to 16 ng/ml (interquartile range, 14-20) 4 h later (P = 0.0067). We conclude that an acute bolus of red wine, but not white wine, activates platelets but has no substantial effect on the endothelium.
Blann
A D
AD
Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK. a.blann@bham.ac.uk
Williams
N R
NR
Lip
G Y H
GY
Rajput-Williams
J
J
Howard
A N
AN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014920:Wine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D000431:Ethanol