Another piece in the puzzle – Moderate wine consumption can decrease inflammation markers
Some studies suggest that moderate wine consumption may have positive effects on cardiovascular health. Particularly red wine contains a variety of bioactive compounds, which have shown anti-inflammatory effects in experimental models. The aim of the current study was to assess the anti-inflammatory characteristics of wine, measured as urinary tartaric acid, a new biomarker of wine consumption.
InflammationInflammation is a type of nonspecific immune response that defends the body against the constant thr... is a critical link between the immune response of the body and various physiological processes. Acute inflammation is a protective mechanism aimed at repairing tissue damage and combating infections. Chronic inflammation can lead to a series of detrimental conditions, including the development of arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, autoimmune diseases, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. This is where the Mediterranean diet (Med Diet) comes in because of its potential to curb inflammation. Epidemiological studies have shown that the Med Diet – which contains a lot of antioxidant-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats from extra virgin olive oil and fatty fish, as well as a moderate consumption of wine – can reduce circulating inflammatory molecules in a population at high cardiovascular (CVD) risk. Some of its dietary components, such as polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids, exhibit powerful anti-inflammatory properties which might help to modulate inflammatory processes responsible for several chronic diseases. In the context of the Med Diet, the moderate intake of wine is a complementary factor that works in synergy with other heart-protective elements of the Med Diet. These components may contribute to elevated high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, inhibiting the platelet aggregation, stimulating antioxidant effects, and reduce chronic inflammation, among other effects. The impact of (red) wine on health is still debated. Some studies did not find any noticeable impact of moderate red wine consumption on inflammatory biomarkers, while others have even reported proinflammatory effects. However, most randomized clinical trials and observational epidemiological investigations strongly suggest that moderate drinking of wine yields positive outcomes in various inflammatory pathways, which might be due to the polyphenols. Urinary tartaric acid concentration has emerged as an objective, reliable, selective, and sensitive biomarker for gauging moderate wine consumption. In the current longitudinal sub-analysis within the PREDIMEDThe PREDIMED study is one of the few randomized controlled trials about the Mediterranean Diet. More... trial, the anti-inflammatory potential of wine by measuring tartaric acid excretion in urine in a population at high risk for CVD was assessed at baseline and after one year of follow up.
An inverse association between changes in tartaric acid excretion in urine and changes in the plasma inflammatory molecules (sVCAM-1 and sICAM- 1) was observed. The current study demonstrates that urinary excretion of tartaric acid (*) serves as a valid and reliable biomarker for assessing wine consumption, better than data obtained using validated food-frequency questionnaires.
(*) Tartaric acid is the primary acid found within grapes, and during the harvest, grape juice holds between 4–8 g/L of this acid. This acid content contributes to the grapes’ lower pH level and provides pleasant organoleptic characteristics to wine. Tartaric acid is synthesized in only a limited number of plant species, making it a valuable compound as a biomarker for grape consumption and its derivatives, such as wine.
