WINE AND THE HEART

The controversy over wine and the heart continues. The J shaped curve
between alcohol consumption and total mortality is now well accepted.

The same relationship applies to heart disease.

The evidence that this is specific to wine intake is variable, but tends to
favour wine over other forms of alcohol.

The type of alcohol intake may affect the shape of the J shaped curve, tending to favour moderate wine intake over beer or spirits.

All this data is observational, and a trial has not been done to answer the question of whether wine is genuinely good for the heart or whether wine consumption is simply a reflection of a healthy lifestyle.

Until this is done, most authorities have concluded that a light to moderate intake of wine is beneficial.

For more information on Wine and the Heart, see presentations by Peter Thompson in his role as Director of Research and Cardiologist at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Clinical Professor of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Western Australia.