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Glass of wine a day could help battle diabetes
Scientists from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel have hailed the benefits of drinking a glass of red wine every day, which they say could help people with type 2 diabetes manage their cholesterol and cardiac health.
As part of the study the health of 224 patients with type two diabetes, the form linked to obesity, aged 45 to 75 and who generally abstained from alcohol.
Gradually introducing moderation wine consumption as part of a healthy diet platform, the study found that those who regularly had a drink with their evening meal had healthier hearts and lower cholesterol levels than those who drank mineral water or white wine instead.
Neither red nor white wine resulted in a change in blood pressure or liver function, however sleep quality was significantly improved in both wine groups compared with the water control group.
The study was carried out in collaboration with Prof. Meir Stampfer from Harvard University in the US, and colleagues from the University of Leipzig in Germany and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
Prof Iris Shai, of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, said: “Red wine was found to be superior in improving overall metabolic profiles. Initiating moderate wine intake, especially red wine, among well-controlled diabetics, as part of a healthy diet, is apparently safe, and modestly decreases cardio-metabolic risk.
“The differential genetic effects that were found may assist in identifying diabetic patients in whom moderate wine consumption may induce greater clinical benefit.”
Researchers attributed the positive impact to the antioxidants found in red grapes called phenols, the most well-known being resveratrol.
Despite a vast catalogue of observational studies praising the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, in particular the antioxidant resveratrol, recommendations for its clinical application remain controversial due to a lack of long-term studies.
The study, entitled Effects of Initiating Moderate Alcohol Intake on Cardiometabolic Risk in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, and was funded by a grant from the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).
Great to see another article on one of the benefits of drinking good wine, although the results were already common knowledge of course. Good wine helps reduce cancer, stroke, heart attack, diabetes and dementia amongst many other benefits. However yet again we see confusion even in the title which will render this study useless when the anti alcohol lobby get hold of it. It is not the effects of “moderate alcohol”. These effects are caused by the anti-oxidants such as resveratrol, not by the alcohol. These anti-oxidants are not present in any significant quantity in processed drinks such as 85% of the wine sold in the UK, nor RTDs, spirits or mass produced beers. These doctors may be very good at analysis but they’re not so good at wording their reports. Good wine is a nutritious healthy drink – exactly the opposite to heavily processed alcoholic drinks, and this report while praising the benefits of the anti-oxidants is not distinguishing between the two and is heaping the praise on “moderate alcohol” instead.
I have a bad liver. My Doctor said no alcohol. Not even 1 drop. I like wine.
Yet more good news for those who enjoy a nice glass of wine. 😉