[Effects of two Sicilian red wines on some cardiovascular risk factors].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Sicilian red wine consumption is associated with a lower cardiovascular risk.


METHODS
Forty-eight subjects of both sexes (age range 35-65 years) nondrinkers or rarely drinkers of moderate red wine intake were selected. Subjects were divided into two groups (group A and group B), assigned to receive with a crossover design 250 ml/die (during the meals) of one of two types of Sicilian red wines (Nero d'Avola and Etna Torrepalino respectively). At all visits (-15 days, basal, +4 and +8 weeks) the following parameters were measured: blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides (by enzyme kit methods, Boehringer Mannheim, Milan, Italy), HDL cholesterol (by selective precipitation with dextran-magnesium chloride), LDL cholesterol (by calculation with the Friedewald formula), LDL/HDL ratio, apolipoproteins A1 and B (by radial immunodiffusion, Behring Institute, Scoppito, Italy), lipoprotein(a) (ELISA, Technoclone, Vienna, Austria), plasma C-reactive protein (high-sensitivity, Dade Behring, Marburg, Germany), D-dimer (Turbiquant, Dade Behring), factor VII (coagulant activity, Dade Behring), plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen (ELISA), tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (ELISA), fibrinogen (coagulant), oxidized LDL antibody (ELISA), total plasma antioxidant capacity (FRAP method).


RESULTS
At the end of the red wine intake period, HDL cholesterol was significantly increased (p < 0.01) and the LDL/HDL ratio was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in both study groups, while apolipoprotein A1 was significantly increased (p < 0.05) only in group A. In both group A and group B fibrinogen (p < 0.01 and p < 0.005, respectively), factor VII (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), plasma C-reactive protein (p < 0.005 and p < 0.05, respectively) and oxidized LDL antibody (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased, while tissue-type plasminogen activator (p < 0.005), plasminogen activator inhibitor (p < 0.005) and total plasma antioxidant capacity (p < 0.005) were significantly increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show a positive effect of these Sicilian red wines on many risk factors, suggesting a moderate consumption of red wine in the adult population as a component of the Mediterranean diet.
Avellone
Gino
G
Istituto di Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi, Palermo. ginoavellone@libero.it
Di Garbo
Vincenzo
V
Campisi
Domenico
D
Alonzo
Giuseppe
G
Gambino
Leonardo
L
Avellone
Giuseppe
G
De Simone
Rosa
R
Raneli
Gilia
G
Novo
Salvatore
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014920:Wine