I am reading an article entitled Wine and Health: A Review in the December, 2011 issue of the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture1. This review corroborates the study that found that people in France have a low incidence of coronary heart disease even though they consume foods rich in fat. This finding has come to be known as the French Paradox. Here is a good article found on Wikipedia: French Paradox.
This review states that both the alcoholic as well as the polyphenolic components of the wine are believed to contribute to the beneficial effects of drinking wine regularly and in moderation. Wine may protect against cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension, certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, neurological disorders, and metabolic syndrome. The modes of action that is impacted by drinking wine, especially red wine, have been attributed to the antioxidant, lipid regulating, and anti-inflammatory effects of wine. These modes of action are mediated by the constituents in wine including polyphenols that are a complex mixture of flavonoids (such as anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols) and nonflavonoids (such as resveratrol, cinnamates, and gallic acid).
The beneficial effects of drinking red wine has been correlated with a compound known as resveratrol. Resveratrol can alter lipid metabolism, inhibit LDL oxidation, and inhibit platelet aggregation. Some animal studies have shown that resveratrol exhibited both cardioprotective and chemopreventive effects. It also inhibits the growth of some tumor types and exhibits anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, neuroprotective, antiproliferative, and antiangiogenic activities.
So, here is to celebrating the weekend with a glass of wine (or two)!
2. The chemical structure of tartaric acid was drawn by the freely available drawing program from ACD Labs called ACD/ChemSketch Freeware.
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