A daily glass of red wine: does it affect markers of inflammation?
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.
Retterstol
Lars
L
Department of Medical Genetics, Ullevål University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway. l.j.retterstol@ioks.uio.no
Berge
Knut Erik
KE
Braaten
Øivind
Ø
Eikvar
Lars
L
Pedersen
Terje R
TR
Sandvik
Leiv
L
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
D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol