VASORELAXATION

Flesch M et al Effects of red and white wine on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of rat aorta and human coronary arteries. AM J PHYSIOL 1998;275:1183-94.

Red wine that is produced en barrique exerts a vasodilatory effect in vitro within a concentration range that could be reached in vivo by moderate wine consumption.

Fitzpatrick (SMFW Bulletin, Vol. 36, No. 1, March 1994) showed that certain wines relaxed precontracted smooth muscle of intact rat aortic rings; (expressed as maximum % relaxation: California Cabernet sauvignon 89%, French Cabernet sauvignon 86%, California "Burgundy" 53%, California Chardonnay 20%, and French White Bordeaux 0%). This more complex study of vascular tension in preparations of rat aortic rings and human coronary arteries concludes that the vasorelaxation effect depends on the vinification and aging of the wine.

Three red wines which were produced en barrique (defined as bunches of grapes which were pressed and fermented with grape stems and the wine subsequently matured in oak barrels) — a Bordeaux, Chateauneuf du Pape and Barolo exerted the strongest relaxation effects on rat precontracted aortic rings. Ahr- Spatburgunder, a German red wine, and Italian Valpolicella (grapes pressed and fermented without grape stems and the red wine matured in stainless steel tanks) had no effect on vascular tension. A Beaujolais Primeur (grapes fermented together with the stems but the wine matured in stainless steel tanks) fell in between — significant vasodilatory reaction but less than the red wines produced en barrique. Ethanol in similar concentrations as wine had no effect on relaxing vascular tension. California Chardonnay (Freemark Abbey 1988 Napa Valley which was fermented in stainless steel without skins and seeds and then aged for 5½ months in 60 gallon Never French oak barrels), Mosel Riesling (produced in steel tanks) and a Spanish white Rioja (produced en barrique) did not decrease vascular tension. The in vitro vasodilatory effects of the en barrique produced red wines were dependent on an intact endothelial layer and mediated by generation of nitric oxide.

The authors conclude: "barrique wines cause a vasorelaxation because they are powerful modulators of endothelial function." This production of red wine en barrique "leads to a high concentration of phenolic components" and "might explain why the effect of wine consumption on the mortality of myocardial infarction is more pronounced in France and Italy than in any other country." "In consequence, if conclusions are drawn from epidemiological studies on the effects of wine consumption, the important aspect of different effects of different wines has to be taken into account."

Both Fitzpatrick and Andriambeloson (SMFW Bulletin, Vol. 39, No. 2, 1997) showed that some wine components did and others did not provide vasodilation. Ethanol, catechin, malvidin and resveratrol did not while quercetin, tannic acid and leucocyandiol did. In this article, Flesch confirmed tannic acid and quercetin to have concentration-dependent vascular relaxation effect on rat aortic rings and human coronary artery rings in vitro.

In a review of this subject, Fitzpatrick (Chapter 18 in WINE: NUTRITIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS. American Chemical Society Symposium Series Number 661, 1997) states: "certain wines stimulate nitric oxide generation and secretion by endothelial cells of the blood vessel wall in vitro, resulting in cyclic GMP-mediated relaxation of vascular smooth muscle." "Since nitric oxide is known to decrease platelet aggregation and adhesion, and to diminish oxidation of low density lipoprotein, as well as relax blood vessels, this mechanism could contribute to the beneficial effects of wine."

Andriambeloson E et al Nitric oxide production and endothelium-dependentvasorelaxation induced by wine polyphenols in rat aorta. BRIT J PHARM 1997;120:1053-8.

Polyphenols induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in the rat aorta.

Fitzpatrick (see abstract in March 1994 SMFW Bulletin Vol. 36 No. 1) had demonstrated that certain wines and grape skin extracts relaxed precontracted intact rat aortic rings. These scientists, using polyphenols extracted from French Cabernet Sauvignon wine, have delved further into the underlying mechanism(s) of this action. "Results show that red wine polyphenol compounds and leucocyandiol, but not the structurally related polyphenol catechin, induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in the rat aorta." "It is concluded that some polyphenols, with specific structure, contained in wine possess potent endothelium-dependent vasorelaxing activity." The authors indicate that this effect is via an enhancement of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. 

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