Daily moderate amounts of red wine or alcohol have no effect on the immune system of healthy men.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the daily intake of red wine (RW) at a dose which inversely correlates with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk modulates immune functions in healthy men.


METHODS
Randomized single-blind trial with four intervention periods.


METHODS
The Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Federal Research Centre for Nutrition, Karlsruhe, Germany.


METHODS
A total of 24 healthy males with moderate alcohol consumption patterns were recruited and all completed the study.


METHODS
Participants consumed 500 ml of RW (12% ethanol (ETOH)) or 500 ml of a 12% ETOH dilution per day for a period of 2 weeks. To control the potential effects of RW polyphenols, accordingly 500 ml/day of dealcoholized red wine (DRW) and of red grape juice (RGJ) were given. The following immune parameters were measured before beverage consumption and at 1 and 2 weeks following beverage consumption: phagocytic activity of neutrophils and monocytes, production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-2 and -4, transforming growth factor-beta, TNFalpha mRNA, lymphocyte proliferation, lytic activity of natural killer cells, and percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes.


RESULTS
Consumption of a moderate volume of alcohol with RW and with a 12% ETOH dilution had no effect on immune functions in healthy males. Consumption of polyphenol-rich beverages (DRW and RGJ) did not affect immunity-related parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily moderate consumption of alcohol and of RW for 2 weeks at doses which inversely correlate with CVD risk has no adverse effects on human immune cell functions. Polyphenol-rich beverages such as RGJ and DRW further do not suppress immune responses in healthy men.
Watzl
B
B
Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Federal Research Centre for Nutrition, Karlsruhe, Germany. bernhard.watzl@bfe.uni-karlsruhe.de
Bub
A
A
Pretzer
G
G
Roser
S
S
Barth
S W
SW
Rechkemmer
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000276:immunology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D059808:Polyphenols; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014920:Wine
D016207:Cytokines; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols