Wine slightly better than beer for cardiac health

Modern Brewery Age, Feb 14, 2005

A recent article in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis determined that drinkers of wine benefit from its cardioprotective effects, more so than those who drink beer or other spirits, and wine drinkers may also live longer.

The article is part of a series of papers published in an open forum on wine, alcohol and cardiovascular risk.

Some aspects of the studies can be reviewed at www.sciencedaily.com.

The analysis, encompassing various international studies, further confirms the agreement among researchers that any alcohol, in light to moderate intake, puts drinkers at lower risk for cardiovascular disease and death than non-drinkers.

Experts have agreed that small daily amounts of wine or beer can help prevent cardiovascular disease and lead to longer life, but a new study says wine may be the better of the two. The report is careful to note that no one knows yet why there is a difference. One possible explanation: wine drinkers tend to come from higher socioeconomic groups, which, presumably, lead to a healthier overall diet.

"It is also known from a number of studies that wine drinkers in many cultures are from a higher socio-economic status and have a better diet than non-wine drinkers," states Professor Morten Gronbaek, author of the article.

In particular, the French are noted to have a relatively low rate of cardiovascular disease, despite high smoking rates and a typical high fat diet.

Further evidence has shown that the disease fighting antioxidants present in fruit and vegetables, are also present in wine.