The auto-oxidation of cholesterol leaves oxysterols in its wake, causing intestinal mucosal damage. Interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 are found to be upregulated by the presence of these oxysterols (1). The inflammatory aspect appears dependent upon redox inequilibrium and causes reactive oxygen species to increase as a function of NADPH-oxidase NOX1 activation. Phenolic compounds extracted from selected Sardinian wines was found to partially inhibit NOX1, while a Vermintino white wine, containing a smaller fraction of phenols, demonstrated lesser efficacy. Cannonau red wine; however, was seen to completely inhibit NOX1 activation. Cannonau red wine is not only abundant with higher levels of phenols than the Sardinian wine, but also contains flavonoids.
1.Biasi, Fiorella, Tina Guina, Marco Maina, Barbara Cabboi, Monica Deiana, Carlo I. Tuberoso, Simone Calfapietra et al. "Phenolic compounds present in Sardinian wine extracts protect against the production of inflammatory cytokines induced by oxysterols in CaCo-2 human enterocyte-like cells."Biochemical pharmacology (2013).
Base on this articles findings, would you suggest people with high cholesterol to start drinking only red wine and completely ignore the white wine substitute?
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather practices one drink a day like it’s a religion, because of this I have often wondered what the effects of different alcohols are.
ReplyDeleteFrom this study’s findings, I would suggest that a patient with high cholesterol should primarily drink red wines. The high level of phenols and flavonoids is beneficial as they function as antiodixants. Additionally, NOX1 activation was completely inhibited by the Cannonau red wine, which in turn decreases inflammation.
I did some research into the health benefits of white wines and found that drinking wine is associated with better lung function. The positive association was stronger for white wine than red, while both were positive. The researchers postulated that the antioxidants in white wine help shut down radicals, preventing damage to lung tissue. Further research is needed to determine the mechanism behind this function (Schunemann 2002).
After reading this research I would suggest drinking primarily red wine (one glass per night) and then once a week drinking white wine for its benefits as well for healthy adults.
Schunemann HJ, Grant BJ, Freudenheim JL, Muti P, McCann SE, Kudalkar D, Ram M, Nochajski T, Russell M, Trevisan M. Beverage specific alcohol intake in a population-based study: Evidence for a positive association between pulmonary function and wine intake. BMC Pulm Med 2002 May 8;2(1):3.