Red Wine, White Wine Improve Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Diabetics, says a 2-Year Trial

A glass of wine with dinner can improve lipid and glycemic control profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, suggests a small trial. Findings from the Cardiovascular Diabetes and Ethanol trial, which included 224 patients from two centers in Israel with controlled diabetes, showed that those who consumed 150 mL/day of red wine plus a Mediterranean diet had significantly higher levels of (good) cholesterol after 2 years compared with those who drank equal amounts of mineral water plus the healthy diet (the primary outcomes).

In addition, the group randomized to white wine intake had significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose levels vs the mineral-water group. Both wine groups also had significantly improved triglyceride levels. “But for now, the results suggest modest beneficial effects of initiating moderate wine consumption, and red wine in particular” for this patient group, said the researcher. However, “these benefits should be weighed against potential risks when translated into clinical practice.”