The effect of chronic consumption of red wine polyphenols on vascular function in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate whether the chronic consumption of dealcoholised red wine (DRW) (polyphenol-rich component) and/or red wine (RW) improves vascular function in hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women. DESIGN, SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTION: A randomised parallel-arm study. Forty-five hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women were randomised into either water, DRW or RW group for 6 weeks following a 4 week washout. Fasting measures of central haemodynamic parameters, arterial wave reflection and endothelial nitric oxide were taken at 0 and 6 weeks. SETTING: Clinic in the School of Public Health, Curtin University. RESULTS: There were no significant between group differences in arterial stiffness as measured by augmentation index (AIx) and augmentation pressure (AP). However, a significant within group decrease in AIx (-9%, P=0.02) and AP (-12%, P=0.02) was observed following DRW consumption. No significant changes were observed in central haemodynamic parameters and endothelial nitric oxide levels following DRW and RW consumption, compared to water. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the chronic consumption of DRW nor RW improved markers of arterial stiffness, compared to control. However, the significant within group improvements in these indices following the consumption of DRW cannot be overlooked and warrant further investigation.

Polyphenolics and fat absorption.

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate whether the acute consumption of red wine polyphenolic compounds regulates lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in dyslipidemic postmenopausal women. DESIGN: Eight dyslipidemic postmenopausal women each consumed a mixed meal accompanied by either water, dealcoholized red wine or alcoholic red wine on three separate visits, in a random order, 2 weeks apart. One fasting and six hourly postmeal blood samples were taken and analyzed for plasma apolipoprotein B48 (apoB48; specific marker of chylomicrons (CM) and their remnants (CMR)); total-, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol; triglycerides (TAG); insulin and glucose at each time point. RESULTS: There was a decrease in postprandial apoB48 levels after alcoholic and nonalcoholic red wine consumption compared to water. CONCLUSION: Red wine attenuates postprandial CM and CMR levels in plasma, possibly by delaying the absorption of dietary fat, as suggested by a decrease in plasma apoB48 levels. The reduction of postprandial lipoproteins in circulation after red wine consumption may partly explain the low cardiovascular mortality rates among the French.