ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2006 April;165(2):79-85

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Moderate consumption of two Sicilian red wine inhibits platelet aggregation

Avellone G., Di Garbo V., Campisi D., Indovina A., Abruzzese G., Raneli G., De Simone R.

Istituto di Clinica Medica, Università di Palermo, Palermo

Aim. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of moderate consumption of Sicilian red wine on cardiovascular risk factors and, in particular, on platelet aggregation and hemorheological parameters.
Methods. Forty-eight subjects of both sexes who were nondrinkers or rare drinkers of moderate red wine were selected and randomly subdivided into 2 groups assigned to receive with a cross-over design a Sicilian red wine (Nero d’Avola or Etna Torrepalino) during meals: Group A (n=24), in whom the diet was supplemented for 4 weeks with 250 mL/day of red wine, followed by 4 weeks when they returned to their usual wine intake; and Group B (n=24), in whom the usual wine intake was maintained for 4 weeks, followed by 4 weeks when the diet was supplemented with 250 mL/day of red wine. At all visits (-15 days, basal, + 4 and + 8 weeks) the following parameters were measured: blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides (by enzyme kit methods, Boehringer Mannheim), HDL-cholesterol (by selective precipitation with dextran-magnesium chloride), LDL-cholesterol (by calculation with the Friedewald formula), LDL/HDL ratio, apolipoproteins A1 and B (by radial immunodiffusion, Behring Institute, Scoppito, Italy), Lp(a) (ELISA), plasma C-reactive protein (High Sensitivity, Dade Behring), fibrinogen (Coagulant), platelet aggregation (ADP and collagen induced), hematocrit (Wintrobe), blood and plasma viscosity (Rand).
Results. At the end of red wine intake period, HDL-cholesterol (p<0.01) and apolipoprotein A1 (p<0.05) were significantly increased and the LDL/HDL ratio was significantly (p<0.05) decreased. Moreover, at the end of red wine intake period fibrinogen (p<0.01), plasma C-reactive protein (p< 0.005), ADP-induced platelet aggegation (p< 0.01), and plasma viscosity (p< 0.01) were significantly decreased, while latent time for collagen-induced platelet aggregation (p<0.005) was significantly increased.
Conclusion. Our results show a positive effect of these Sicilian red wines on many risk factors, suggesting a moderate consumption of red wine in the adult population as component of Mediterranean diet.