It's news that’s worth raising a glass to. Drinking a glass of wine a day could be more effective than statins at lowering the chances of a heart attack, research suggests. In the most compelling evidence to date, scientists found that those who drank moderate amounts as part of a Mediterranean diet could slash their risk of heart attacks by half.
![[The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 'units' of alcohol — around six glasses of wine, or pints of beer — per week]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/17/78058901-14202445-The_NHS_recommends_people_drink_no_more_than_14_units_of_alcohol-a-33_1734454867384.jpg)
While other studies have suggested vino could have a protective effect on the heart, researchers said many rely on self-reporting. Instead of simply asking people how much they consumed, this was the first to use measurements of a key biomarker from urine samples.
As well as completing questionnaires on their food and drink consumption, the 1,232 people involved provided samples at the start of the study and again one year later which measured for tartaric acid. After four or five years of follow up, there were 685 cases of heart disease, including heart attack, stroke or death from cardiovascular disease.
They found those who drank between 12 and 35 glasses of wine each month had a 50 per cent lower risk compared to those who consumed one or less. Recent studies indicate that the protective effects of wine starts around the age of 35 to 40. Drinking between three and 12 glasses of wine each month had a 38 per cent lower risk of heart disease, according to the study, which has been published in the European Heart Journal.
