Red wine may not be divine in making your heart feel fine

Top medical authorities are cautioning the nation’s healthcare professionals to downplay the popular but unproven notion that drinking red wine can help ward off heart attacks.

An American Heart Association science advisory published in a recent issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association urges physicians to emphasize heart-protective steps that may be less appealing that sipping a daily glass or two of wine, but which are firmly supported by science.

"We want to make clear that there are other risk-reduction options that are well-documented and free of the potential hazards associated with alcohol consumption," said Ira J. Goldberg, M.D., a member of the association’s Nutrition Committee and professor of medicine at Columbia University in New York City.

"Our recommendations in this advisory are directed primarily at members of the health care professions," said Goldberg.

"Our advice: If you want to reduce your risk of heart disease, talk to your doctor about lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure, controlling your weight, getting enough exercise and following a healthy diet.

"There is no scientific proof that drinking wine or any other alcoholic beverages can replace these effective conventional measures."

The hypothesis that drinking wine — particularly red wine — helps counteract the harmful effects of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat grew out of population surveys showing lower rates of heart disease despite high-fat diets in some parts of Europe where wine is consumed regularly.

This so-called "French paradox" has created wide interest in the U.S.

However, the hypothesis deserves further investigation, according to Goldberg.

"The pattern of consumption of alcoholic beverages may be a marker for other lifestyle factors related to heart disease risk. A number of dietary factors, such as eating fresh fruits, vegetables and fish, and reduced intake of milk products differ between American and European populations and are associated with reduced heart disease risk."

The proposed benefits of alcohol consumption must be weighed against the adverse effects, according to the advisory team. Studies show, for instance, that consuming more than one or two drinks per day can raise blood pressure in some individuals. Other adverse effects of long-term alcohol consumption are fetal alcohol syndrome, cardiomyopathy, stroke, irregular heartbeat and sudden death.

"Alcohol is an addictive substance with many downsides," said Goldberg. "Even moderate drinking can adversely affect some individuals."

Without a large-scale trial that focuses specifically on wine intake and its association with heart disease risk, the American Heart Association urges individuals to talk to their physicians about the benefits and risks of drinking alcoholic beverages.