Wine Improves Blood Levels Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Posted on: Thursday, 18 December 2008, 08:45 CST | Related Video
A new Italian study finds that a daily glass or two of wine may increase the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in a person’s blood.
The study, led by Dr. Romina di Giuseppe of Catholic University in Campobasso, Italy, involved 1,604 European adults between the ages of 26 and 65. The results showed that moderate drinkers had higher blood levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, even after accounting for fish intake, the major dietary source of omega-3.
The link was strongest among wine drinkers, compared with those who drank beer or spirits. This suggests that wine, in particular, may affect the body's metabolism of omega-3 fats, the researchers said.
The study further suggests another possible explanation behind moderate wine drinking’s link with a lower risk of heart disease, wrote the researchers in a report about the study. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish like salmon and mackerel, are believed to protect the heart by lowering a type of blood fat known as triglycerides. Among other benefits, this reduces inflammation and prevents heart-rhythm disturbances.
The scientists believe that wine may increase blood levels of "good" HDL cholesterol, reduce the risk of blood clots and improve the function of the blood vessel lining.
Furthermore, lab research suggests that drinking moderate amounts of wine, or other types of alcohol, may also alter the way the body metabolizes omega-3 fatty acids.
"That is exactly what we found in our population study," wrote di Guiseppe in a statement.
"People drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, one drink a day for women and two for men, had higher concentration of omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and red blood cells independently of their fish intake."
The researchers designed the study to include participants from Italy, Belgium and England, since people in these nations have significantly different drinking and eating habits. This allowed the researchers to distinguish the effects of different types of alcohol on blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids. They found that moderate wine consumption was particularly linked to higher omega-3 levels.
The research indicates that wine components other than alcohol bestow the benefit, Di Guiseppe's team noted. Perhaps antioxidant compounds called polyphenols may play a role, they said.
The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2009, and online December 4, 2008.
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Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
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