title: A daily glass of red wine: does it affect markers of inflammation?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiological studies have shown that moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with a decreased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but the causal mechanisms are only partly understood. As inflammation is an important process in the progression of atherosclerosis, we hypothesized that the protective effect of red wine is partly mediated through a reduction in inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized controlled crossover trial to study the effect of red wine on the levels of the inflammatory markers serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma fibrinogen in healthy, non-smoking individuals. The subjects were randomized to drink one glass of red wine (150 ml, 15 g alcohol) every day ('wine period') or to undergo a period of total abstention from alcohol ('abstention period'). After 3 weeks they switched intervention group. Eighty-seven volunteers completed the study (mean age 50 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Red wine did not reduce CRP levels and only marginally reduced fibrinogen levels compared with a similar period without alcohol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumption of 150 ml of red wine slightly reduced fibrinogen levels but did not reduce CRP levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Ullevål University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway. l.j.retterstol@ioks.uio.no
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Retterstol
authors.forename: Knut Erik
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Berge
authors.forename: Øivind
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Braaten
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eikvar
authors.forename: Terje R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Leiv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sandvik
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D013695:Temperance; D014920:Wine
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol