Wine may be good for the heart, new study says, but experts aren’t convinced

Drinking a small amount of wine each day may protect the heart, according to a new study of Spanish people following the plant-based Mediterranean diet, which typically includes drinking a small glass of wine with dinner.

Drinking a small amount of wine each day may protect the heart, according to a new study of Spanish people following the plant-based Mediterranean diet, which typically includes drinking a small glass of wine with dinner.

In a group of people over 60 at risk for heart disease, drinking one-half to one glass of wine a day reduced the risk of having a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke by 50 per cent when compared to people who drank no wine.

However, this protective effect disappeared in people who drank more than one glass per day, according to senior study author Dr. Ramon Estruch, who studies cardiovascular risk, nutrition and aging at the University of Barcelona.

“This study examines the importance of moderate wine consumption within a healthy dietary pattern, such as the Mediterranean diet,” said Estruch, an internist in the internal medicine department of the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona, in a statement.

“Until now, we believed that 20 per cent of the effects of the Mediterranean diet could be attributed to moderate wine consumption; however, in light of these results, the effect may be even greater,” he said.

However, critics say the study doesn’t consider the well-known health harms of alcohol, including wine.

“While the study suggests that low to moderate wine consumption may lower CVD (cardiovascular) risk, it is not an all clear to crack open a bottle of red wine,” said Tracy Parker, senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, who was not involved in the study.