Wine is healthier than vodka: tested on pigs
Taking care of the heart, choose red wine, not vodka
LifeSciencesToday based on RIH materials: Rhode Island Hospital Study Shows Wine Has More Cardiovascular Benefits than VodkaA group of American cardiac surgeons studied the effect of moderate doses of various types of alcohol on myocardial ischemia – the result of the development of atherosclerosis induced by a high-fat diet.
Scientists have concluded that red wine has the greatest positive effect on the heart of pigs with elevated cholesterol levels and its mechanism of action differs from the mechanism of action of vodka.
Frank Sellke, MD, head of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, and his colleagues studied the effects of Pinot noir red wine and vodka on pigs with high cholesterol and found that the condition of animals treated with the time of the wine experiment has improved to a greater extent.
The article Effects of Red Wine and Vodka on Collateral-Dependent Perfusion and Cardiovascular Function in Hypercholesterolemic Swine is published in the journal Circulation.
Numerous previous studies have shown the benefits of moderate wine consumption, but Dr. Sellk and his colleagues wanted to test the effects of both wine and vodka combined with high cholesterol. They concluded that moderate consumption of both types of alcohol reduces cardiovascular risk, but red wine provides more reliable protection due to its antioxidant properties.
The experiment was conducted on three groups of pigs who were fed food with a high fat content. The animals of the first, control, group continued to stay on such a diet, the second group received red wine daily, and the third received vodka. Wine and vodka were mixed with food, and their doses were selected in such a way that they contained an equal amount of alcohol.
After seven weeks, pigs receiving both wine and vodka had significantly increased blood flow to the heart. In animals treated with red wine, this effect was more pronounced. In addition, in both alcohol-treated groups, the levels of high-density lipoproteins, or good cholesterol, increased significantly, while the total cholesterol level did not change. High-density lipoproteins transport low-density lipoproteins to the liver, where they are metabolized, which helps in preventing the development of atherosclerosis and other heart diseases.
Scientists have found that although both red wine and vodka have a positive effect on the state of the heart, they do it in different ways. Red wine dilates blood vessels, and vodka stimulates the growth of collateral blood vessels.
These findings shed new light on the mechanisms by which moderate alcohol consumption can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Whether these positive effects will be observed in humans remains to be seen.
Previous studies have convincingly proved that moderate consumption of beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages is associated with a decrease in cardiovascular risk. In particular, the antioxidant, proangiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of substances contained in red wine are being actively studied. The most well-known of these substances is resveratrol. However, it is important to note that even among red wines there is a large variation in the actual content of resveratrol. Although California Pinot noir refers to wines with a very high resveratrol content, its amount in the wine selected for this study was less than in other red wines.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru12.09.2012