Acute intake of moderate amounts of red wine or alcohol has no effect on the immune system of healthy men
Abstract
Background A recent prospective cohort study revealed that moderate wine consumption but not consumption of other alcoholic beverages is associated with a decreased risk of common cold. In contrast, wine constituents such as ethanol and polyphenols are known to suppress immunity.Aim of the study We investigated whether acute intake of a moderate amount of alcohol modulates immune functions in healthy men and whether polyphenols in red wine with antioxidative and immunomodulatory potential induce changes in immune functions that differ from those induced by the consumption of the 12 % ethanol.Methods Six healthy males with moderate alcohol consumption patterns randomly consumed a single dose of 500 ml of red wine (12 % ethanol), a 12 % ethanol dilution, dealcoholized red wine, and red grape juice, respectively. The following immune functions were measured before beverage consumption and 1, 3, and 24 h later: phagocytic activity and intensity of neutrophils and monocytes, production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-2, and interleukin-4, lymphocyte proliferation, and lytic activity of natural killer cells.Results Acute consumption of a moderate amount of red wine and of a 12 % ethanol solution had no effect on immune functions in men. Acute consumption of polyphenol-rich beverages (dealcoholized red wine and red grape juice) also did not affect immunity.Conclusions This study clearly shows that moderate consumption of alcohol at doses which inversely correlate with cardiovascular disease risk has no short-term effect on human immune cell functions. Acute intake of polyphenol-rich beverages such as red grape juice and dealcoholized red wine also does not affect immunity.
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Low hand-grip strength is associated with high levels of CRP and IL-6.
“Muscle strength was also evaluated in this study and low hand-grip strength was associated with high levels of CRP and IL-6 (231) .”
From Dietary factors and low-grade inflammation in relation to overweight and obesity (2011) · cites this paper as [231]
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Dietary factors and low-grade inflammation in relation to overweight and obesity
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Self-citationDaily moderate amounts of red wine or alcohol have no effect on the immune system of healthy men
Watzl, B., Bub, A., Pretzer, G., Roser, S., Barth, S. W., & Rechkemmer, G. (2004) · European Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601742 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
- Authors
- Watzl, B., Bub, A., Briviba, K., & Rechkemmer, G.
- Corresponding author
- Watzl, Bernhard
- Venue
- European Journal of Nutrition
- Published
- 2002-12-01
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 264-270
- ISSN
- 1436-6207 (ISSN-L)
- 1436-6215
- OpenAlex
- W2064947410
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- European Journal of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- OpenAgrar (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Keywords
- red wine, acute alcohol intake, immune function, polyphenols, ethanol, red grape juice, phagocytic activity, natural killer cells, lymphocyte proliferation, cytokines, immunomodulation
- MeSH terms
- Alcohol Drinking, Ethanol, Beverages, Flavonoids, Humans, Immune System, Lymphocyte Activation, Male, Phagocytosis, Phenols, Polymers, Prospective Studies, Reference Values, Wine, Cohort Studies, Cytokines, Polyphenols
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