Wine, Alcohol and Polyphenols and Cardiovascular Risk
Wine, Alcohol and Polyphenols and Cardiovascular Risk
Although it is undeniable that heavy or binge alcohol consumption leads to an increase in the risk of all-causes death and makes up an enormous social and economic problem that must be addressed, moderate alcohol consumption, especially in the form of wine and beer, has cardioprotective effects through different mechanisms. Nevertheless, although they are hard to carry out and need careful ethical considerations, more long-term clinical trials are needed to elucidate whether other mechanisms may be involved in these protective effects and which type of alcoholic beverage is more cardioprotective.
Conclusions
Although it is undeniable that heavy or binge alcohol consumption leads to an increase in the risk of all-causes death and makes up an enormous social and economic problem that must be addressed, moderate alcohol consumption, especially in the form of wine and beer, has cardioprotective effects through different mechanisms. Nevertheless, although they are hard to carry out and need careful ethical considerations, more long-term clinical trials are needed to elucidate whether other mechanisms may be involved in these protective effects and which type of alcoholic beverage is more cardioprotective.