Red Wine and Resveratrol: Good for Your Heart?

Resveratrol could be the key ingredient that makes red wine heart-healthy. Mayo Clinic staff.

Red wine, in moderate amounts, has long been considered heart-healthy. Alcohol and certain substances in red wine called antioxidants may help prevent coronary artery disease, a condition that leads to heart attacks.

Antioxidants in red wine may increase the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) and protect against cholesterol buildup.
Health professionals do not recommend starting to drink alcohol for heart benefits, especially if you have a family history of alcohol use disorder. Too much alcohol can have many harmful effects on the body.

But if you already enjoy a glass of red wine with your evening meal, moderate drinking may improve your heart health.

How Red Wine Benefits Heart Health?

Antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols may help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. One polyphenol called resveratrol has gained attention for its health benefits.

Resveratrol in Red Wine

Resveratrol may prevent damage to blood vessels, lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels (“bad” cholesterol), and prevent blood clots.
However, studies on resveratrol are mixed. Some research suggests that resveratrol may be associated with a reduced risk of inflammation and blood clotting, which could lower the risk of heart disease. However other studies have not found any benefits of resveratrol in preventing heart disease.
Further research is needed to determine if resveratrol reduces the risk of inflammation and blood clotting.

Resveratrol in Grapes, Supplements, and Other Foods

The resveratrol in red wine comes from the skin of grapes used to make wine. Since red wine ferments with grape skins longer than white wine, red wine contains more resveratrol.

Simply eating grapes or drinking grape juice can be a way to get resveratrol without consuming alcohol. Red and purple grape juices may offer the same heart benefits as red wine.

Peanuts, blueberries, and cranberries also contain some resveratrol. It’s not yet clear how eating grapes or other foods compares with drinking red wine when it comes to heart health. The amount of resveratrol in food and red wine can vary.

Resveratrol supplements are also available. However, their side effects are uncertain, and research suggests that the body may not absorb large amounts of resveratrol from supplements.

How Alcohol May Help the Heart?

There is still no clear evidence that beer, white wine, or liquor are any less beneficial for heart health than red wine.

Various studies have shown that moderate amounts of all types of alcohol have a positive effect on the heart, not just the alcohol found in red wine. Alcohol is believed to:
Raise HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol).

Reduce the formation of blood clots.

Help prevent damage to arteries caused by high levels of LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol).

Improve the function of the lining of blood vessels.

The potential benefits of red wine and other alcoholic beverages for heart health continue to be studied. It appears that those who consume moderate amounts of alcohol, including red wine, have a lower risk of heart disease.

However, it’s important to understand that studies comparing moderate drinkers to non-drinkers can skew the benefits of moderate drinking, as non-drinkers may already have health issues.

Additional research is needed to determine if red wine is better for the heart than other forms of alcohol, such as beer or spirits.

The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute do not recommend starting to drink alcohol solely for heart disease prevention. Alcohol can be addictive and may cause or worsen other health problems.

Consuming too much alcohol increases the risk of accidents, violence, and suicide, certain types of cancer, heart failure, high blood pressure, liver disease, and pancreatitis, and stroke.

Avoid alcohol entirely if you are pregnant, have a personal or family history of alcohol use disorder, have liver or pancreas disease related to alcohol consumption, have a weakened heart, or take certain medications.

If you have questions about the benefits and risks of alcohol, talk to your doctor for specific recommendations for you.

If you already drink red wine, do so in moderation.

For healthy adults, this means:

• Up to one drink per day for women of all ages.
• Up to one drink a day for men over 65.
• Up to two drinks a day for men 65 and younger. The limit for men is higher because men are heavier than women and have more enzymes that metabolize alcohol.
• Drink in moderation – or not at all!