Middle-aged French men who drank two or more glasses of wine a day were less likely to suffer further heart attacks than non-drinkers.

The Lyon Diet Heart Study is looking at the effects of the 'Mediterranean' diet on heart health. One component of such a diet is, of course, wine. A group of 353 men in this part of France, aged 40 to 60, was followed for about four years. All had already had one heart attack.

The men who consumed two or more glasses of wine a day reduced their risk of a second heart attack by more than 50 per cent in comparison with non-drinkers. This adds to previous research that suggests that wine-drinking - and alcohol consumption in general - can benefit the heart, at least in moderation.

Source

Circulation 3rd September 2002