from the longevinex folks, so squint suspiciously while reading

[Guest guest]

Since we're talking heart attacks . . . .

No More Cholesterol Pills? Study Shows Red Wine Molecule Prevents Plaque From

Forming In Arteries Regardless of Cholesterol Count

For over a decade researchers have debated whether red wine produces health

benefits because of its alcohol content, or because of other molecules in red

wine. Now researchers at Nanjing Medical University in China report on the use

of de-alcoholized red wine and cardiovascular health. Animals were fed alcohol,

red wine, de-alcoholized red wine and pure research-grade resveratrol, a

molecule found in red wine. Animals were then fed a high cholesterol diet and

the human equivalent of 210 milligrams of resveratrol, or 280 millilters of red

wine or alcohol-free red wine.

The results of the study are surprising. After 12 weeks the animals actually

experienced a rise in circulating levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol,

and " good " HDL cholesterol regardless of whether they were fed alcohol, red

wine, alcohol-free red wine or resveratrol.

However, while cholesterol plaque formed in the arteries (thoracic aorta) of the

cholesterol-fed animals, the size, density, and mean area of atherosclerotic

plaques were significantly reduced in rabbits given de-alcoholized red wine, red

wine, or resveratrol. Resveratrol prevents cholesterol plaque from forming

within artery wall regardless of whether circulating levels of cholesterol are

high or low!

Here is the abstract of the study, for your review:

International Journal Molecular Medicine 16:533-540, 2005

Dealcoholized red wine containing known amounts of resveratrol suppresses

atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits without affecting plasma lipid

levels.

Wang Z, Zou J, Cao K, Hsieh TC, Huang Y, Wu JM.

Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical

University, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China.

Moderate consumption of red wine is associated with a reduced risk of coronary

heart disease (CHD). This phenomenon is based on data from epidemiological

observations known as the French paradox, and has been attributed to

CHD-protective phytochemicals, e.g., resveratrol in red wine. Since red wine

also contains alcohol, it is conceivable that alcohol interacts with resveratrol

to elicit the observed cardioprotective effects.

To determine whether resveratrol has alcohol-independent affects, we compared

cardioprotective properties of dealcoholized Chinese red wine with

alcohol-containing Chinese red wine having comparable amounts of resveratrol,

using a hypercholesterolemic rabbit model and resveratrol as a reference.

Animals fed a high cholesterol (1.5%) diet were simultaneously given water

containing resveratrol (3 mg/kg/day) or red wine (4 ml/kg/day) containing 3.98

mg/l and 3.23 mg/l resveratrol for regular and dealcoholized red wine,

respectively, for a 12-week duration. Total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol and

triglyceride levels in the plasma were measured before and after the cholesterol

challenge. Atherosclerotic plaques in the thoracic aorta were evaluated using

histochemical methods. Vascular and endothelial functions in the femoral artery

were also assessed by ultrasonographic image analysis.

High cholesterol-fed animals showed a significant increase in plasma levels of

total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, but not triglycerides, compared to those fed a

regular diet. Dietary cholesterol-elicited lipid changes were similarly observed

in animals concurrently fed dealcoholized red wine, red wine or resveratrol. In

contrast, whereas atherosclerotic lesions were clearly evident in specimens

prepared from the thoracic aorta of high cholesterol-fed animals, the size,

density, and mean area of atherosclerotic plaques, and thickness of the intima

layer were significantly reduced in rabbits given dealcoholized red wine, red

wine, or resveratrol.

These results were in agreement with data obtained by an ultrasound analysis of

endothelial function, which showed a 25% reduction in flow-mediated dilation

(FMD) in rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet compared to animals on control

diet. This decrease was effectively prevented by the simultaneous exposure to

dealcoholized red wine, red wine, or resveratrol. Our study shows that animals

given dealcoholized red wine exhibited cardio-active effects comparable to those

of animals orally administered resveratrol, and suggests that wine

polyphenolics, rather than alcohol present in red wine, suffice in exerting

cardioprotective properties. The results also provide support for the notion

that resveratrol and phytochemicals in red wine can suppress atherosclerosis

without affecting plasma lipid levels.

Maco