We read that people in France, Italy
and Spain who consume moderate amounts of wine have a very low incidence of
coronary heart disease even though they have a diet rich in saturated fats and a
high consumption of cigarettes.
We understand it has been estimated by pharmacologists that wines containing at least 5 mgm of Resveratrol per litre
would benefit a person's health if he or she consumed 500mls of the wine per
day.
Dr. Geoffrey Skurray and Dr. Prasongsidh Boupha from the Centre for Advanced Food Research at the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, New South Wales (as reported in the Australian Grapegrower & Winemaker 25th
Annual Technical Issue 1997) say that"clinical trials
have shown that Resveratrol prevents blood clots blocking the coronary arteries
and inhibits the oxidation of low density lipo proteins that could cause
blockage of coronary arteries .."
They say research indicates that
Resveratrol prevents human body cells from turning cancerous and inhibits the
spread of cells that are already malignant and that Resveratrol is found to be
non toxic to humans.
They suggest that the Resveratrol
content of wine is:
- higher in red wines than in white wines;
- highest in wine from Burgundy, Oregon, Switzerland and Bordeaux;
- lowest from warmer countries (Mediterranean, South American and Australian);
- increased with lower summer and autumn temperatures;
- increased with fungal infection;
- unaffected by aging because of its chemical stability;
- up to ten times higher in wines produced from grapes that were macerated compared with unmacerated grapes;
- lowest in Botrytis-infected grapes because of lower fungal resistance;
- unaffected by ultraviolet light;
- unaffected by systemic fungicides that stimulate
defence mechanisms in wines.
We are told that application of this
research to Australian conditions suggests that:
- There is a wide variation in
concentrations of Resveratrol between regions
- Red table wines have a significantly greater concentration of Resveratrol than white table wines.
- Red wines from Mudgee, Coonawarra and Nuriootpa regions have the highest levels of Resveratrol.
- A particular Shiraz cask wine had the lowest level of Resveratrol of all of the wines
- Cabernet-based wines contain more Resveratrol than
Pinot Noir or Shiraz-based wines
The Australian red wines tested had
a higher Resveratrol concentration than Californian and Burgundy wines reported
in the study.
We read that research by Dr. Kindl,
at the University of Marburg, in Germany, has been reported to show promise for
future control of Resveratrol levels in grapes. Dr. Kindl is reported to have
isolated the genes for the synthesis of Resveratrol in the grapevine DNA so that
these genes could be incorporated into new stock.
Wine and Heart Disease
Dr. Geoffrey Skurray from the Centre for Advanced Food Research at the University of Western Sydney was reported in the Australian Grapegrower & Winemaker March 1996 to say that "many
of the early winemakers in Australia were medical doctors who prescribed wine as
a medicine for good health. Oriental folk medicine recommended wine and extracts
of grapes for heart and lipid disorders and indeed the grapevine produces potent
antifungal and antioxidants to protect itself against
disease."
Dr Skurray suggests that there is an inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease and this relationship is independent of race, age or sex. He says that "there are two main protective agents in wine and other alcoholic beverages. First, the ethanol itself reduces blood platelet stickiness that could lead to a blood clot in a coronary artery. Secondly, the group of phenolic compounds that protect the grapevine against attack by grey mould and other fungi are powerful protectors against heart disease by preventing blood clots."
We read that Resveratrol has been
found to be the most active 'cardio protective' agent in wines.
Health Benefits of Wine Consumption
Dr Phillip Norrie in "Wine Hunter - the Hunter Valley Wine Society Official Journal - Autumn 1999" reports that "drinking wine in moderation reduces vascular disease by up to 50%"
Talking about strokes, we are told that the vast majority of strokes are ischaemic strokes. These are normal strokes and, we are told, benefit from consuming wine. Dr Norries says "so when it comes to stroke the vast net health benefit is from being a moderation wine consumer."
The anti-alcohol lobby is reported to say that the incidence of stroke is increased with alcohol consumption, which we are told is true for haemorrhagic strokes due to the anti-coagulant effect of alcohol thinning the blood and making the
haemorrhage worse , and that haemorrhagic strokes account for only about 5% of
strokes.
We are told that the risk of strokes
are reduced by sensible lifestyle such as consuming wine in moderation, not
smoking, watching your blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol and exercising.
Dr Norrie says ".. vascular benefit involves the bones. Better blood flow to the bones means better supply of minerals such as calcium to the bones so moderate consumers of wine have stronger bones with less osteoporosis".
We understand that, in the United
States of America, wine bottles have to have an official Government Health
Warning label which states, amongst other things, that women should not consume
alcohol while pregnant.
This is apparently due
to
the fear of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome where babies born to mothers
who abused alcohol during their pregnancy are born with certain facial malformations and mental defects.
The issue, we understand, is whether or not this occurs if the mother limits
herself to safe drinking limits, whatever they may be.
Dr Norrie reports that "most defects occur in the
first trimester of a pregnancy, when the women doesn't "show", because that is
when the baby actually forms, so the most damage, if it is going to occur, from
alcohol is going to occur when the women is not showing. The second thirteen
weeks is for the growth and development of the already formed baby and the last
thirteen weeks is for maturation and "fatting up" of the baby prior to birth.
That is why neonatologists (new born baby doctors) can now keep babies alive who
are only 26 weeks gestation because they are fully formed and developed, they
just missed out on the last part where they get ready for their birth."
Studies in Western Australia found that more harm occurred
due to the anxiety of pregnant women worrying about Foetal Alcohol
Syndrome, than from moderate drinking during the pregnancy.
We do not offer an opinion on this subject - you must consult you own doctor.
We understand that The Royal College
of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Britain has a policy statement saying
that consuming alcohol in moderation during pregnancy is safe whereas the
American Health warning about pregnancy and drinking is a political statement to
appease the anti-alcohol lobby, rather than a medical statement based on medical
fact.
Dr Norrie says that studies have
shown that most women who have babies with Alcohol Syndrome came from lower
socio-economic groups in large cities suggesting there may be other poor
nutritional and pollution factors - not just alcohol abuse.
On the subject of breast feeding, we
are told that alcohol is secreted in breast milk but if the mother drinks with
moderation, the amount of alcohol in her milk would be minimal and at worst
would make the baby a little drowsy so it would sleep better. On the other hand
Dr Norrie suggests that if the mother abuses alcohol, the anti coagulant effect
of the alcohol can cause excessive bleeding in the baby.
We read that consuming wine in moderation may mean that the vascular tree within the brain would be less diseased, hence able to supply the brain's nerves with more blood containing essential oxygen and glucose, helping the brain function better. Dr Norries says that "wine in moderation could be referred to as "brain food" or "brain friendly" as it prevents strokes and nerve cell degeneration, which is in marked contrast to what was previously thought about the effects of any form of alcohol on the brain"
Dr Norrie suggests that "consuming wine in moderation is the single most important preventative health measure one can do other than giving up smoking. The wine could be red or white, it doesn't matter, they both have the same health benefits. One should marry the wine to whatever you are eating and not worry that it has to be red to be beneficial".
Hangover?
Drink any wine in copious quantities and you may get a headache. A vitamin company, Nu-vita, now claims to have the answer - Morning Fit - a nutrient packed vitamin B and Chinese yeast extract combination which the company claims replaces the essential nutrients in your body that are depleted by too much alcohol.
