Although moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with a lower risk of certain diseases, the safest amount of alcohol for most people is probably close to zero.
That being said, alcohol — particularly wine — may contain some healthy compounds, with resveratrol being the most widely known. Wine’s resveratrol content has been used to support observations such as the “French paradox” — the observation that the French have a lower cardiovascular mortality rate compared to other countries despite their high intake of saturated fats.[1]
Indeed, red wine comprises many phenolic compounds, including flavonoids (flavonols, flavones, and anthocyanidins) and non-flavonoid compounds (hydroxycinnamic acids, stilbenes such as resveratrol, and tannins),[2] all of which exert biological effects.
But what’s the link between wine consumption per se and various diseases? Some observational evidence has found that wine drinking is associated with protection from ischemic heart disease and cardiovascular complications in people who previously suffered a heart attack.[3][4] Moderate wine consumption has also been associated with reduced CVD mortality,[5][6] type 2 diabetes,[7] and all-cause mortality.
However, wine consumption is also associated with a higher socioeconomic status, healthier behaviors, and fewer risk factors for other illnesses — confounding factors that may explain part of the apparently beneficial effects of wine consumption.[8] In other words, wine drinkers may be healthier, but it might not be because of the wine.
Finally, the bioavailability of resveratrol from red wine is extremely low. Only trace amounts of free trans-resveratrol were observed in blood samples taken 30 minutes after drinking wine with or without a low-fat or high-fat meal. Rather, the resveratrol metabolites 3-glucuronide and 4′-glucuronide predominated, raising doubts about the bioavailability of resveratrol and its effects on health in humans.[9]
So, will drinking wine help you live longer? Probably not, but enjoying a glass or two with dinner doesn’t seem to be harmful to your health. Drink responsibly if you choose to do so.