DALLAS, Sept. 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Men with high risk for heartdisease had lower blood pressure after drinking non-alcoholic red wineevery day for four weeks, according to a new study in the AmericanHeart Association journal Circulation Research.Non-alcoholic red wine increased participants’ levels of nitric oxide,which helped decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure,researchers said. Nitric oxide is a molecule in the body that helpsblood vessels relax and allows more blood to reach your heart andorgans.
Researchers studied 67 men with diabetes or three or morecardiovascular risk factors who ate a common diet plus one of thefollowing drinks: about 10 ounces of red wine, non-alcoholic red wineor about 3 ounces of gin. All of the men tried each diet/beveragecombination for 4 weeks.
The red wine and nonalcoholic wine contained equal amounts ofpolyphenols, an antioxidant that decreases blood pressure.
During the red wine phase, the men had very little reduction in bloodpressure and there was no change while drinking gin. However, afterdrinking non-alcoholic red wine, blood pressure decreased by about6mmHg in systolic and 2mmHg in diastolic blood pressure -- possiblyreducing the risk of heart disease by 14 percent and stroke by as muchas 20 percent.
Researchers concluded that the alcohol in red wine weakens its abilityto lower blood pressure. But polyphenols -- still present after alcoholis removed from wine -- are likely the beneficial element in wine.
Co-authors are Gemma Chiva-Blanch, Mireia Urpi-Sarda, Emilio Ros, SaraArranz, Palmira Valderas-Martinez, Rosa Casas, Emilio Sacanella, RafaelLlorach, Rosa M Lamuela-Raventos, Cristina Andres-Lacueva and RamonEstruch. Author disclosures and funding sources are on the manuscript.
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