Moderate Red Wine Consumption in Cardiovascular Disease : Ethanol Versus Polyphenols

For decades it has been suggested that regular, moderate consumption of red wine, a major component of the Mediterranean diet, at main meals may contribute to explaining the healthy properties attributed to this traditional dietary style. Although preclinical in vitro and in vivo data have shown a significant cardioprotective activity of grape phytochemicals, mostly polyphenols, evidence in humans is still debated. This lack of consensus may be because of the equilibrium between the two main components of wine that are relevant for health: alcohol and polyphenols. In this chapter we briefly review the beneficial effects of moderate red wine intake in humans, focusing on the reduction of cardiovascular risk.