Study Effect of Red Wine Consumption on Endothelial Progenitor Cells and Endothelial Function

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with a reduction of cardiovascular events, and red wine seems to offer more benefits than any other type of alcoholic beverages. However, the relationship between red wine consumption and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) remains unclear. The investigators examine whether intake of red wine could enhance the number or functional capacity of circulating EPCs by upregulation of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability.

Detailed Description
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Moderate ethanol intake from any type of beverage has been shown to improve lipoprotein metabolism and lower cardiovascular mortality risk, but red wine, with its abundant antioxidant contents, seems to confer additional healthy benefits. Previous studies indicated that the beneficial effects of red wine are derived from increased endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO), implying that enhanced NO bioavailability may mediate the cardiovascular protection provided by red wine. Increasing evidence suggests that the injured endothelial monolayer is regenerated partly by circulating bone marrow derived-endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which accelerate reendothelialization and protect against the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Clinical studies demonstrated that the number of circulating EPCs predicts the occurrence of cardiovascular events and death from cardiovascular causes and may help to identify patients at increased cardiovascular risk. Although many epidemiologic studies have indicated that light-to-moderate consumption of red wine can reduce the incidence of CAD, the multifarious effects of red wine on circulating EPCs and endothelial function remain to be determined. Therefore, we design this study to test the hypothesis that intake of red wine can enhance the number and functional capacity of EPCs through increasing NO bioavailability.

Official Title
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Taipei Veterans General Hospital

Conditions
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Endothelial Progenitor Cells Numbers, Endothelial Function (FMD)

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: red wine


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Forty young healthy subjects with no cardiovascular risk factors Exclusion Criteria: History of hypertension Diabetes mellitus Symptoms of CAD Smoking Chronic renal insufficiency (serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl) Inflammatory or liver diseases Regular alcohol consumption (drinking more than 20 g of ethanol per week)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 2<br>Forty subjects are randomized to a group (n=20) that consumed red wine (100 ml) or a group (n=20) that consumed beer (250 ml) daily for 3 weeks | Other: red wine<br>* One group (n=20) that consumed red wine (100 ml) daily for 3 weeks Another group (n=20) that consumed beer (250 ml) daily for 3 weeks<br>* Other names: The beer used was Taiwan Beer (5% alcohol) from Taiwan.;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of endothelial progenitor cells, endothelial function (FMD) |  | VGH-97DHA0100127 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plasma NO, hsCRP, ADMA, TNF-a, adiponectin, ox-LDL levels |  | VGH-97DHA0100127 |