People with Type 2 Diabetes now have a reason to drink wine. A new study has found that drinking a moderate amount of red wine every day improves heart health and lowers the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to CBS News.
People with diabetes are more prone to developing heart disease. They have lower levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), otherwise known as the "good cholesterol," in their bodies. While red wine was known to bring down blood sugar levels, there had not been enough evidence showing it improved heart health.
According to study co-author, Iris Shai of Ben Gurion University of the Negev, people with diabetes generally believe that alcohol is not good for them, even if consumed moderately, NPR reported.
To determine the effect of red wine on people with Type 2 Diabetes, the researchers conducted a two-year study involving 224 people, aged 45 to 75, who had diabetes and who did not drink alcohol. The participants were asked to follow a Mediterranean diet. They were randomly given five ounces of red wine, five ounces of white wine or mineral water during dinner.
The participants went through various tests to determine their cholesterol levels and to check how quickly they metabolized alcohol. At the end of the study, those who drank red wine were found to have higher levels of HDL. Their sleep quality also significantly improved.
"Red wine was found to be superior in improving overall metabolic profiles, mainly by modestly improving the lipid profile, by increasing good HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1, one of the major constituents of HDL cholesterol, while decreasing the ratio between total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol," the researchers said in a press release.
The researchers recommend "one to two glasses of red wine for men and up to one glass of red wine for women, daily, at dinner," according to CBS News.
The study was published in the Oct. 13 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.
