Red wine: Paradox Unveiled

Numerous studies have demonstrated long ago a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease among moderate drinkers of red wine.

But the mechanisms of action of the substances remained a mystery. Researchers from the University of Angers have been trying to explain this by identifying a subtype of estrogen receptor as the key player in the wine polyphenols action. Their results are published in the journal Plos One.

Cardiovascular benefits of moderate consumption of wine, especially red, are now accepted, but the scientists could not determine the mechanism involved, nor the target responsible for the protective effects of red wine.

However, various studies have identified the polyphenol content in wine to be responsible for a vasodilatory effect (which dilates blood vessels), via production of nitric oxide.

In this new work, researchers have tried to determine the mechanism of action of polyphenols. The team found a compound activator of estrogen receptor (ER) that could induce nitric oxide action in cells and thus reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Experiments with mice showed that polyphenols from red wine leads to vascular relaxation in arteries, they do not cause vasodilation in arteries of mice deficient for the estrogen receptor.

This proves that the vasodilatory effect of polyphenols, via production of nitric oxide requires the presence of estrogen receptor. Furthermore, the use of a substance blocking these receptors abolishes both the production of nitric oxide and activation of pathways leading to the formation of this substance in human cells.

All these results help to reinforce the scientific hypotheses on the vascular protective effects of moderate consumption of the red wine.

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