New research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine notes that relaxing with a glass of wine at the end of the day may improve heart health and blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
The work found that red wine improved good cholesterol; and both red and white wine helped better control blood sugar levels in those who metabolize alcohol more slowly.
Although previous studies suggest that drinking wine helps the heart, expert recommendations on the benefits of moderate consumption remain controversial, specifically for those with diabetes, said Iris Shai, lead author of the study and researcher at Ben-Gurion University. in Negev, Israel.
The expert assured that this is the first clinical trial on a long-term and large-scale alcohol intervention that has been carried out (particularly in patients with diabetes), which showed the benefits of wine and if the type of wine matters.
The specialists recruited 224 patients with type 2 diabetes between 40 and 75 years of age, where they were randomly asked to drink a five-ounce glass (almost 15 centiliters) of red wine, white wine or mineral water every night for two years along with your dinner. The researchers measured cholesterol and blood sugar levels, as well as other indicators of heart health and diabetes control. Measurements were made at the beginning of the study, six months later, and at the end of the study.
Throughout the study, the volunteers followed a Mediterranean diet (for being heart healthy) and were asked not to restrict calories. At the beginning of the research, the patients' diabetes was well managed (they all drank little, about one alcoholic drink a week).
Shai said that the effect of wine on blood sugar levels was perhaps entirely due to alcohol, as it is capable of preventing the body from generating glucose. Likewise, the effect of wine on HDL or good cholesterol levels was greater with red wine, thanks to substances known as phenols. Compared to the white wines, the red wines in the study had seven times higher total phenol levels.
For people who do not drink alcohol, the American Heart Association (AHA) notes that these substances can also be found in grapes and grape juice, as well as other fruits and vegetables. The AHA emphasizes that exercise is also an effective method of improving HDL cholesterol levels.
The results show that it is safe for people with type 2 diabetes and who are at low risk of alcohol abuse to consume wine moderately with a healthy diet, which would lower their cardiovascular risk.
However, Shai cautioned that women should have a maximum of one drink a day and men two.
