title: The impact of moderate wine consumption on health.
abstract: Wine is a traditional beverage that has been associated with both healthy and harmful effects. Conceptions like the so-called "French paradox" or the beneficial impact of the Mediterranean diet suggest benefit. Wine has a complex composition, which is affected by whether it is red or white or by other variables, like the variety of grapes or others. Alcohol and phenolic compounds have been attributed a participation in the benefits ascribed to wine. The case of alcohol has been extensively studied, but the key question is whether wine offers additional benefits. Resveratrol, a non-flavonoid compound, and quercetin, a flavonol, have received particular attention. There is much experimental work confirming a beneficial balance for both substances, particularly resveratrol, in various organs and systems. The pharmacological dosages used in many of those experiments have shed doubt, however, on the clinical translation of those findings. Clinical studies are limited by their observational nature as well as for the difficulties to abstract the benefits of wine from other confounders. Notwithstanding the doubts, there is reasonable unanimity in beneficial effects of moderate wine consumption in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, maybe neurological diseases, and longevity. Observations are less enthusiastic in what refers to cancer. While considering these limitations, clinicians may spread the message that the balance of moderate wine consumption seems beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Av Blasco Ibáñez 17, 46010 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: ana.arfu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Artero
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Univesitario Dr. Peset, Av Gaspar Aguilar 90, 46017 Valencia, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Av Blasco Ibáñez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: arturo.artero@uv.es.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Artero
authors.affiliation: Department of Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, School of Biological Sciences, Burjasot Campus, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: Juan.J.Tarin@uv.es.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tarín
authors.affiliation: Service of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clínico University Hospital, Av Blasco Ibáñez 17, 46010 Valencia, Spain; Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Valencia, Av Blasco Ibáñez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: Antonio.Cano@uv.es.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cano
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D027843:Vitis; D014920:Wine
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D013267:Stilbenes; D000077185:Resveratrol
keywords: Alcohol; Health; Resveratrol; Wine