Scientists Show that Wine Made with the Tannat Grape Provides a Higher Concentration of Polyphenols and Contributes to Better Vascular Health Scientists R. Corder, W. Mullen, N. Q. Khan, S. C. Marks, E. G. Wood, M. J. Carrier and A. Crozier from William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London EC1M 6BQ, UK and Plant Products and Human Nutrition Group, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK  published a study presented in Nature Journal the  November 30 ,2006 edition. Regular, moderate consumption of red wine is linked to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease and to lower overall mortality, but the relative contribution of wine's alcohol and polyphenol components to these effects is unclear. They identified procyanidins as the principal vasoactive polyphenols in red wine and show that they are present at higher concentrations in wines from areas where the Tannat grape is used to make wines.  These regions also happen to be associated with increased longevity in the population. Wines made from the Tannat grape have 2–4-fold more biological activity and OPC (oligomeric procyanidin) content than other wines. The higher OPC concentration in the wines which produce the most benefit is due to traditional wine-making, which ensures that high amounts of OPCs are extracted, and to the flavonoid-rich grape Tannat, which makes up a large proportion of grapes used to make the wines. High consumption of polyphenols inhibits atherosclerosis in experimental s. Red-wine polyphenols induce endothelium-dependent dilatation of vessels and suppress the synthesis of endothelin-1 (ET-1).  Total polyphenols and OPC (oligomeric procyanidin)  content of each wine correlated with the suppression of ET-1 synthesis.   Red Wines Prevent Coronary Heart Disease--Endothelin-1 synthesis reduced by red wine Roger Corder and other researchers at  at the William Harvey Research Institute, Barts & the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London have proven that chemicles in red wine,specifically the polyphenols act to inhibit the synthesis of Endothelin-1 which is a chemicle crucial in the develoment of coronary atherosclerosis.  Statistical evidence of reduced coronary heart disease in areas of high wine consumption has led to the widespread belief that wine affords a protective effect. This study showed that red wines strongly inhibit the synthesis of endothelin-1, a vasoactive peptide that is crucial in the development of coronary atherosclerosis6. The findings indicate that components specific to red wine may help to prevent coronary heart disease Inhibition of ET-1 synthesis was correlated with the total polyphenol content . Red-grape juice also inhibits ET-1 synthesis, but is markedly less potent than red wine. The white and rosé wines had no effect on ET-1 synthesis. Their findings indicate that remarkably small amounts of red-wine extract can suppress ET-1 synthesis: assuming adequate absorption of the active component, they support assertions that a moderate intake of red wine can prevent coronary heart disease.     Role of Endothelin-1 in the Active Constriction of Human Atherosclerotic Coronary Arteries Scott Kinlay, MBBS, PhD; Dominik Behrendt, MD; Marco Wainstein, MD; John Beltrame, BMBS; James C. Fang, MD; Mark A. Creager, MD; Andrew P. Selwyn, MD; Peter Ganz, MD from the Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Mass. Background—— Atherosclerotic coronary arteries are prone to constriction but the underlying causes are incompletely understood. We tested the hypothesis that endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, contributes to the heightened tone of atherosclerotic human coronary arteries. Methods and Results—— In 8 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and 8 patients with angiographically smooth coronary arteries (normal), we infused BQ-123, an antagonist of the ETA receptor, into a major coronary artery (infused artery) at 40 nmol/min for 60 minutes. The infused artery in the CAD patients contained a >50% stenosis. Using quantitative angiography, we compared the dilation of the infused artery with another, noninfused coronary artery. To estimate the magnitude of the contribution of ET-1 to coronary tone, we compared the dilation to BQ-123 with that elicited by intracoronary nitroglycerin (200 µg). BQ-123 induced significant dilation in the normal arteries (7.3% at 60 minutes, P<0.001 versus noninfused arteries) and a greater dilation in the CAD arteries (16.3% at 60 minutes, P<0.001 versus infused normal arteries). The dilation at stenoses was particularly pronounced (21.6% at 60 minutes, P<0.001 versus infused CAD arteries). Compared with the dilation from nitroglycerin, ET-1 contributed to 39% of the coronary tone in normal arteries, 74% of tone in CAD arteries, and 106% of tone at stenoses (P<0.01). Conclusions—— ET-1 accounts for nearly all the resting tone in atherosclerotic coronary arteries, especially at stenoses. Inhibitors of ET-1, by relieving constriction, may significantly lessen the hemodynamic significance of coronary stenoses and thereby reduce myocardial ischemia. Wine May Protect Against Colorectal Cancer In a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, researchers at Stony Brook University in New York drinking a glass or two of wine with dinner could help prevent cancer in the digestive tract. The study found that half as likely to develop colorectal cancer as non-drinkers, but beer and spirit drinkers do not see the same benefit. The researchers led by oncologist Dr. Joseph Anderson, studied 2,291 patients who had endoscopy screenings for colorectal disease.  The participants, who were older than 40 and did not have a family history of colorectal cancer were divided equally between men and women.  They answered questions about their dietary, smoking, and exercise habits how much and what kind of alcohol they consumed on average.  A drink was defined as 12 ounces of beer, 1 ounce of hard liquor, or 4 ounces of wine.  The study classified participants as “abstainers” (defined as people who drank less than one drink per week), “moderate drinkers” ( 1-8 drinks per week) and “heavy consumers”( more than 8 drinks per week). The researchers found that the moderate and heavy wine drinkers were, respectively, 45% and 47% less likely to develop colorectal cancer than abstainers.  The moderate beer drinkers showed a 19% lower risk while moderate spirits drinkers had a risk level similar to abstainers.  The heavy spirit and beer drinkers were two and a half times more likely to develop cancer.  Anderson speculated the may have fared better because of the anti-cancer agents in wine, polyphenols such as resveratrol , or because of lifestyle. Factors Associated With Cardiac Mortality In Developed Countries With Particular Reference To The Consumption of Wine A. S. St Leger and other researchers at the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, Cardiff CF2 3AS, United Kingdom have found that s from ischæmic heart-disease in 18 developed countries are not strongly associated with health-service factors such as doctor and nurse density. There is a negative association with gross national product per capita and a positive but inconsistent association with saturated and monounsaturated fat intake. The principal finding is a strong and specific negative association between ischæmic heart-disease s and alcohol consumption. This is shown to be wholly attributable to wine consumption Wine Lowers the Risk of Stomach Cancer Research shows the risk of stomach cancer is reduced by as much as 40% for each glass of red wine consumed per day.  The researchers headed by Morten Gronbaek of the National Institute of Public Health in Copenhagen, Denmark reported the above findings in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention. The researchers explained the effect is thought to be due to a number of factors. First, wine helps wipe out Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria associated with peptic ulcers and gastric cancer.  Second, certain polyphenols abundant in wine such as resveratrol may contribute to the anticancer effect. Third, wine has been reported to increase gastric activity which may decrease the activity of carcinogens in the stomach. The team examined data on more than 28,000 participants in 3 longterm health and lifestyle studies in Copenhagen.  When compared with non-drinkers, participants who drank one to six 5 ounce glasses of wine each week had a 24% lower risk of gastric cancer.  The risk was around 35% for people who drank seven to thirteen glasses of wine weekly.  The few people who drank more than 13 glasses of wine per week showed an 84% lower risk than non-drinkers. The scientists found no statistically significant reductions in risk for beer or spirits drinkers or non-drinkers. Wine, alcohol, platelets, and the French paradox for coronary heart disease S. Renaud PhD and M. de Lorgeril MD of INSERM, Nutrition and Vascular Physiopathology Research Unit (Unit 63), 22 avenue du Doyen Lepine, CP 18, 69675, BronCedex, France wrote the abstract to their study below. In most countries, high intake of saturated fat is positively related to high mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the situation in France is paradoxical in that there is high intake of saturated fat but low mortality from CHD. This paradox may be attributable in part to high wine consumption. Epidemiological studies indicate that consumption of alcohol at the level of intake in France (20-30 g per day) can reduce risk of CH D by at least 40%. Alcohol is believed to protect from CH D by preventing atherosclerosis through the action of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, but serum concentrations of this factor are no higher in France than in other countries. Re-examination of previous results suggests that, in the main, moderate alcohol intake does not prevent CHD through an effect on atherosclerosis, but rather through a haemostatic mechanism. Data from Caerphilly, Wales, show that platelet aggregation, which is related to CHD, is inhibited significantly by alcohol at levels of intake associated with reduced risk of CHD. Inhibition of platelet reactivity by wine (alcohol) may be one explanation for protection from CHD in France, since pilot studies have shown that platelet reactivity is lower in France than in Scotland. Red Wine May Help Prevent Cataracts Researchers at the University of Iceland led by coauthor Fridbert Jonasson, an ophthalmologist, looked over data of 832 participants in the Reykjavik Eye Study which examined the degeneration of eyesight of people ages 55 and older.  The volunteers underwent eye exams and completed questionnaires on their health, lifestyle habits, and drinking patterns. 40% of the participants consumed alcohol.  Anyone who consumed less than 2 glasses per month was classified as a non drinker.  Those who consumed between 2 glasses per month to 3 glasses per day were classified as moderate drinkers.  Heavy drinkers were excluded from the study.  After adjusting for risk factors such as smoking, not wearing sunglasses, and therapeutic steroid use, results translated into a 50% lower chance of developing cataracts for red wine drinkers.  Beer and spirits drinkers showed no statistically significant association with cataract risk Red Wine Rich in Fiber, Study Finds Coauthor Fulgencio Saura-Calixto of the Instituto del Frio in Madrid reported in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture that drinking two glasses of red wine per day provides up to 8% of the United States recommended daily value for fiber.  The study was performed using Spanish red and white wines of different varieties. The white wines only provided 1-2 % of the recommended daily intake of fiber. Wine Polyphenols Decrease Pressure, Improve NO Vasodilatation, and Induce Gene Expression reprinted from Hypertension 2001:38:159 Myriam Diebolt; Bernard Bucher; Ramaroson Andriantsitohaina from Pharmacologie et Physicochimie des Interactions Cellulaires et Moléculaires, CNRS UMR 7034, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France. Abstract—— The effects of short-term oral administration of red wine polyphenolic compounds on hemodynamic parameters and on vascular reactivity were investigated in rats. Endothelial function and vascular smooth muscle contractility were studied in association with the induction of gene expression in the vascular wall. Rats were treated daily for 7 days by intragastric administration of either 5% glucose or red wine polyphenolic compounds (20 mg/kg). Administration of these compounds produced a progressive decrease in systolic pressure, which became significantly different on day 4. Aortas from rats treated with red wine polyphenolic compounds displayed increased endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine that was related to increased endothelial NO activity and involved a mechanism sensitive to superoxide anion scavengers. However, no increase in whole-body oxidative stress has been observed in rats treated with red wine polyphenolic compounds, as shown by plasma glutathione assay. Also, in the aorta, red wine polyphenolic compounds increased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and increased the release of endothelial thromboxane A2, which compensated for the extraendothelial NO–induced hyporeactivity in response to norepinephrine, resulting from enhanced inducible NO synthase expression. The present study provides evidence that short-term oral administration of red wine polyphenolic compounds produces a decrease in pressure in normotensive rats. This hemodynamic effect was associated with an enhanced endothelium-dependent relaxation and an induction of gene expression (of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2) within the arterial wall, which together maintain unchanged agonist-induced contractility. These effects of red wine polyphenolic compounds may be a potential mechanism for preventing cardiovascular diseases Red Wine May Lower Cholesterol Levels Harvard researcher, David Sinclair, who co-authored a study in the journal Nature found that the polyphenol chemical resveratrol lowers cholesterol and mimics the effect of a low calorie diet, which has been found to extend the lives of lab rats by 30% to 50%. “ It needs more study , but there’s potential that human life could be extended too” says Mr. Sinclair. Sinclair thinks the chemical compound should be renamed Reversatrol for its life sustaining properties