Thursday, February 18, 2010

Wine & Chronic Inflammation: What You Need to Know

As we continue to learn more about the many health benefits of wine, it comes to light that red wine in particular may help minimize disease-promoting, chronic inflammation in your body. Inflammation is, by definition, the body's basic response to injury, enabling your white blood cells to protect you from infection and foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. In fact, your body’s basic inflammatory response─acute inflammation─is necessary to your survival.

Chronic inflammation however, which occurs when your pro-inflammatory immune cells are stimulated unnecessarily, is a different story. It appears that chronic, low-level inflammation─in response to stresses like smoking, high cholesterol and obesity─promotes the buildup of fatty deposits in the inner lining of the arteries called arterial plaques. These plaques can rupture, creating blood clots, leading to heart attack or stroke. Excessive inflammation is considered a critical factor in many diseases, including cancer, obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. Inflammation levels in the body may be elevated years before one actually experiences a heart attack or stroke.

How do you know if you have dangerously elevated, chronic inflammation? The most widely used means of measuring inflammation levels in your body is the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test (hsCRP). High levels of inflammation, as indicated by elevated C-reactive protein, have been associated with a greater risk of stroke as well as an increased rate of atherosclerosis progression. High C-reactive protein is also highly predictive of recurrent heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and cardiovascular death.1

So what's the good news? Well,if you’re interested in optimal health, it’s nice to know that you have some control over your own inflammation levels. You can minimize your risk of chronic inflammation by regular exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight, and increasing your intake of inflammation-fighting substances like red wine. Due to the complex mixture of bioactive compounds wine contains, including flavonols, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and resveratrol, this unique beverage may help prevent age-related disorders like neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.2

Other clinical studies have suggested that red wine polyphenols can delay the development of atherosclerosis through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.3 Phenolic compounds like resveratrol in red wine have shown anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo, protecting you by modifying pro-inflammatory gene expression.4 Other research shows that red wine helps to reduce plasma fibrinogen─the soluble protein that forms dangerous blood clots─while also decreasing C-reactive protein.5

In one study, Spanish researchers found that after four weeks of drinking two glasses of wine per day, women showed reduced blood levels of C-reactive protein, while their “good” (HDL) cholesterol increased measurably. Red wine had a more pronounced effect than white wine due to its higher concentration of antioxidant polyphenols like resveratrol. According to Dr. Sacanella who led the study, people who drink moderate amounts of wine─about a glass or two per day─may lower their risk of dying from heart disease by nearly one-third compared with non-drinkers. He advises that “a person who usually drinks up to this quantity of alcohol should maintain this healthy habit."6

There's no magic bullet to longevity, but rather a series of ingredients in a recipe for great health. And clearly, wine is one that you can feel good about including in moderation. Cheers!

1 J Periodontol. 2008 Aug;79(8 Suppl):1544-51
2 Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2009 Sep;33(9):1513-23. Epub 2009 Jun 10
3 Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010 Jan 21. [Epub ahead of print]
4 Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2007;43(4):394-405
5 Atherosclerosis. 2004 Jul;175(1):117-23
6 Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Nov;86(5):1463-9.

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