CSN News: Spanish study claims that drinking a glass of red wine every day will keep doctors away.

Friday, 7th February 2025 at 14:03

According to a new study from the University of Barcelona, drinking wine “significantly reduced the likelihood of cardiovascular disease for people in risk categories”, even more than statins.

For wine to have a “protective effect”, one glass of wine per day is not enough and must always be consumed with a Mediterranean diet pattern.

The benefits of drinking less are canceled out if you drink more. It appears that drinking less makes them diminish. A glass of wine reduces the risk 50% and half a drink 38%.

According to scientists who conducted the research, drinking wine can reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death. The study found that a glass of wine is better than statins, a popular drug for lowering cholesterol in older people in Mediterranean countries. Women should, however, drink half as many drinks as men.

The results of this paper are based upon a sample of 1232 people with “high cardiovascular risks” whose outcomes were tracked over a period of four to five year.

“This study confirms the importance of moderate wine consumption as part of a healthy eating pattern, such as the one provided by the Mediterranean Diet,” said Ramón Estruch, lead author of the paper and doctor at the University of Barcelona and Hospital Clinic. These results show that wine has a greater protective effect than previously observed, and is comparable to some pharmacological treatment.

The method used was an “innovative way to measure wine consumption based on the analysis tartaric acids in urine”, giving “more accurate results” than the questionnaires that are usually given out.

The European Heart Journal published the study, which was funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III. The research was also supported the Health Research fund (HIF), by the Biomedical Centre (Ciber OBN), as well as the foundation for research on wine and nutrition.