Good News for Wine Lovers

Epidemiological studies and controlled trials on alcohol consumption invariably show a U shaped mortality curve where abstinence is associated with higher mortality and increasing alcohol consumption improves health until mortality begins to rise again with high alcohol consumption. As well as all-cause mortality there is a greater reduction of cardiovascular mortality that apparently exceeds the protection afforded by taking statins. While the toxic effects of excess alcohol on brain and liver cells have been known for some time the biological mechanisms behind the protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption include increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, decreased platelet aggregation and blood coagulation factors, and beneficial effects on endothelial function and inflammation. These beneficial effects of alcohol are likely due to the rapid increase in the short chain fatty acid, acetate in the blood stream soon after alcohol consumption.