American Heart Association - Are there potential benefits to drinking red wine?

"American Heart Association does not recommend drinking wine"

Although the AHA admits that there may possibly exist some beneficial elements in red wine- which they believe are as now unproven, they do not prescribe drinking wine (or any other alcohol) in lieu of the known negative effects.

From their site:

Are there potential benefits of drinking wine or other alcoholic beverages?

Research is being done to find out what the apparent benefits of drinking wine or alcohol in some populations may be due to, including the role of antioxidants, an increase in HDL ("good") cholesterol or anti-clotting properties. Clinical trials of other antioxidants such as vitamin E have not shown any cardio-protective effect. Also, even if they were protective, antioxidants can be obtained from many fruits and vegetables, including red grape juice.

The best-known effect of alcohol is a small increase in HDL cholesterol. However, regular physical activity is another effective way to raise HDL cholesterol, and niacin can be prescribed to raise it to a greater degree... How alcohol or wine affects cardiovascular risk merits further research, but right now the American Heart Association does not recommend drinking wine or any other form of alcohol to gain these potential benefits...

There is no scientific proof that drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage can replace these conventional measures.

Posted on 4/3/2008 10:45:18 PM by EricaSApproved 4/7/2008 4:08 PM

The AHA recommends that people maintain heart health through proven means

The AHA is aware of the scientific research that points to a heart health benefit from red wine consumption, but the association feels that drinking red wine on a regular basis is risky for one's health. Further, the association does not feel that the research conducted to date has conclusively proven that there is a direct, causal link between red wine consumption and heart health. The association instead recommends that people follow proven guidelines such as eating a healthy diet and getting consistent exercise to stay healthy.

From the ScienceDaily web site:

Heart Protective Benefits Of Red Wine Remain Uncertain; Physicians Urged To Rely On Proven Ways To Lower Risk

Science Daily — Dallas, Jan. 23 Top medical authorities are cautioning the nation's health care professionals to downplay the popular but unproven supposition that drinking red wine can help ward off heart attacks.

An American Heart Association science advisory published in today's Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association urges physicians to emphasize heart-protective steps that may be less appealing than sipping a daily glass or two of wine, but which are firmly supported by scientific research.

"We want to make clear that there are other risk-reduction options that are well-documented and free of the potential hazards associated with alcohol consumption," says Ira J. Goldberg, M.D., a member of the association's Nutrition Committee and professor of medicine at Columbia University in New York City.

"Our recommendations in this advisory are directed primarily at members of the health care professions," says Goldberg. "Our advice: If you want to reduce your risk of heart disease, talk to your doctor about lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure, controlling your weight, getting enough exercise and following a healthy diet. There is no scientific proof that drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverage can replace these effective conventional measures."

...

The hypothesis that drinking wine particularly red wine helps counteract the harmful effects of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat grew out of population surveys showing lower rates of heart disease despite high-fat diets in some parts of Europe where wine is consumed regularly. This so-called "French paradox" has created wide interest in the United States.

However, this hypothesis deserves further investigation, says Goldberg. "The pattern of consumption of alcoholic beverages may be a marker for other lifestyle factors related to heart disease risk. A number of dietary factors, such as eating fresh fruits, vegetables and fish, and reduced intake of milk products differ between American and European populations and are associated with reduced heart disease risk."

"Alcohol is an addictive substance with many downsides," says Goldberg. "Even moderate drinking can adversely affect some individuals."

Without a large-scale trial that focuses specifically on wine intake and its association with heart disease risk, the American Heart Association urges individuals to talk to their physicians about the benefits and risks of drinking alcoholic beverages.

 

 

Posted on 6/28/2007 6:01:59 PM by ElyseApproved 4/7/2008 4:08 PM