# Wine Polyphenols and Health: Quantitative Research Literature Analysis
## 1 Introduction  
It is now widely demonstrated that to modulate health status, one starting point is to take into account and properly consider both diet and lifestyle. The research for finding beneficial natural sources to promote health has focused its attention on fruits and vegetables, as their consumption has been inversely correlated with cardiovascular diseases (CHD). In the 1980s, a paradox that existed for the French population was observed, as it was shown that mortality from cardiovascular disease was very close to those found for the Chinese and Japanese populations, although the French diet was richer in saturated fats and the concentration of plasma cholesterol was much higher and not in line with the countries where the consumption of saturated fatty acids was less common [1]. To explain this so-called _French Paradox_, it has been suggested that the high consumption of red wine by the French population could likely act as a protective factor in the everyday diet [2,3]. Over time, the debate has moved on and other hypotheses have been put forward by researchers, taking into account that there are other aspects of diet and lifestyle that can be important determinants of cardiovascular health risk [4]. In this context, it was also found that fat consumption and serum cholesterol values were much lower in the French population than in countries such as the United Kingdom and United States in the yearsbefore the 1980s. It was then hypothesized by [PERSON] and [PERSON] [5] that within 25-35 years, there would be changes with increases in coronary heart disease caused deaths for the French population. However, although three decades have passed since the definition of the _French paradox_, the issue is still triggering interest and is the topic of wide discussion. It is also well known that the risk of liver cirrhosis and cancer, in particular the ones affecting the upper digestive and respiratory tract, can be increased by excessive alcohol consumption, while low to moderate red wine consumption has been associated with health-promoting beneficial properties [6]. Nonetheless, is it not clear how the French are able to consume diets with a high content of saturated fats without affecting their cardiovascular health, and they also seem to have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to other populations that consume large amounts of fat-rich foodstuff [1]. Moreover, there is emerging evidence that there is a potential link between oral and gut microbiota alteration and some neurodegenerative disorders [7]. Diet polyphenols, and in particular those contained in wine, are among the main drivers of the composition and function of oral and gut microbiota [8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14]. As reported by [PERSON] et al. [15]: \"the concept of a heart shunt within the microbiota-gut-brain axis underscores the close association between brain and heart health and the so-called _French paradox_ offers clues for understanding neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases\". Much research has been carried out to explain the relationship between wine consumption and health [16; 17; 18]. [PERSON] et al. [19] summarized the current findings about the positive influence of wine consumption on human organ function, chronic diseases, and the reduction of damage to the cardiovascular system, concluding that wine polyphenols could be effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases. Wine, especially red wine, is a complex beverage in continuous evolution, even when it is in the bottle. It is a hydroalcoholic solution (~78% water) that includes many different chemical components, such as minerals, sugars, lipids, soluble proteins, vitamin aldehydes, esters, ketones, phenolics, and organic acids [20]. Among the many bioactive compounds contained in wine, the polyphenols represent the main class.