Drink to prevent: review on the cardioprotective mechanisms of alcohol and red wine polyphenols.
Moderate alcohol consumption has convincingly been associated with decreased cardiovascular mortality in epidemiological studies and metaanalyses. This decreased mortality has been attributed to changes in lipid profiles, decreased coagulation, increased fibrinolysis, inhibition of platelets, increased nitric oxide, and antioxidant capacities of alcoholic beverages. Most of these laboratory and animal studies, as well as small intervention trials in human volunteers, have revealed many interesting mechanisms that contribute to the cardioprotective effects of alcohol, red wine, or red wine polyphenolic compounds. An update on putative mechanisms is presented in this review.
Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center, Heidelberglaan, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Dylan W
DW
de Lange
Albert
A
van de Wiel
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000502:physiology; D005419:Flavonoids; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D010636:Phenols; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000502:physiology; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D059808:Polyphenols; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000502:physiology; D014920:Wine
D000975:Antioxidants; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D005419:Flavonoids; D008055:Lipids; D010636:Phenols; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D059808:Polyphenols; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D013928:Thromboxane A2