Moderate consumption of red wine and vodka may reduce cardiovascular risk by improving collateral-dependent perfusion through different mechanisms, but red wine may offer increased protection due to its antioxidant properties, according to a new study published in the journal Circulation.
Previous research touting the benefits of moderate consumption of wine, but researchers at Rhode Island Hospital conducted a study to investigate the effects of both wine and vodka in conjunction with this at-risk patient populations with high cholesterol.
The study involved three groups of Yorkshire swine that had been fed a high fat diet. One group continued on the diet alone, the second was supplemented daily with Pinot Noir red wine, and the third was supplemented daily with vodka. The wine and vodka was mixed with the pigs’ food, and the dosages were selected to provide equal amounts of alcohol to both treated groups. After seven weeks, the swine that had been given wine or vodka had significantly increased blood flow to the heart, with the red wine having the larger cardiovascular benefit. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) also was significantly increased in the two alcohol-treated groups, while total cholesterol levels were unaffected.
The researchers determined that while both red wine and vodka can benefit the heart, they do so differently. Red wine dilates blood vessels, while vodka caused more collateral vessels to develop. The findings shed new light on the mechanisms by which moderate alcohol intake might reduce cardiovascular risk.
