Red wine good for people with type 2 diabetes

A glass of red wine every night may help people with type 2 diabetes manage their cholesterol and cardiac health, according to researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU).

People with diabetes are more susceptible to developing cardiovascular diseases than the general population and have lower levels of good cholesterol.

“Red wine was found to be superior in improving overall metabolic profiles, mainly by modestly improving the lipid profile, by increasing good (HDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1 (one of the major constituents of HDL cholesterol), while decreasing the ratio between total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol,” the researchers explain.

Wine of either type (red or white) did not effect change in blood pressure, liver function tests, adiposity, or adverse events/symptoms. However, sleep quality was significantly improved in both wine groups, compared with those who drank water. All comparisons were adjusted for changes in clinical, medical and drug therapy parameters occurring among patients during the years of the study.

The two-year CArdiovaSCulAr Diabetes and Ethanol (CASCADE) randomized controlled intervention trial was performed on 224 controlled diabetes patients (aged 45 to 75), who generally abstained from alcohol. They gradually initiated moderate wine consumption, as part of a healthy diet platform, and not before driving. The trial completed with an unprecedented adherence rate of 87% after two years.

The study was performed in collaboration with Prof. Meir Stampfer from Harvard University, USA, and with colleagues from University of Leipzig, Germany and Karolinska Institute, Sweden. This first long-term alcohol study is published in the prestigious Annals of Internal Medicine.

Category: Top Story, Wellness and Complementary Therapies