Cited by 40Alcohol Consumption and Health EffectsPhytochemicals and Antioxidant ActivitiesExercise and Physiological Responses

Daily 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

Abstract

Objective To investigate whether the daily intake of red wine (RW) at a dose which inversely correlates with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk modulates immune functions in healthy men.Design Randomized single-blind trial with four intervention periods.Setting The Institute of Nutritional Physiology, Federal Research Centre for Nutrition, Karlsruhe, Germany.Subjects A total of 24 healthy males with moderate alcohol consumption patterns were recruited and all completed the study.Intervention Participants consumed 500 ml of RW (12% ethanol (ETOH)) or 500 ml of a 12% ETOH dilution per day for a period of 2 weeks. To control the potential effects of RW polyphenols, accordingly 500 ml/day of dealcoholized red wine (DRW) and of red grape juice (RGJ) were given. The following immune parameters were measured before beverage consumption and at 1 and 2 weeks following beverage consumption: phagocytic activity of neutrophils and monocytes, production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-2 and -4, transforming growth factor-beta, TNFalpha mRNA, lymphocyte proliferation, lytic activity of natural killer cells, and percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes.Results Consumption of a moderate volume of alcohol with RW and with a 12% ETOH dilution had no effect on immune functions in healthy males. Consumption of polyphenol-rich beverages (DRW and RGJ) did not affect immunity-related parameters.Conclusions Daily moderate consumption of alcohol and of RW for 2 weeks at doses which inversely correlate with CVD risk has no adverse effects on human immune cell functions. Polyphenol-rich beverages such as RGJ and DRW further do not suppress immune responses in healthy men.

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Crossref · 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601742

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Authors
Watzl, B., Bub, A., Pretzer, G., Roser, S., Barth, S. W., & Rechkemmer, G.
Corresponding author
Watzl, B
Venue
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Published
2003-12-15
Volume
58
Issue
1
Pages
40-45
ISSN
  • 0954-3007 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5640
OpenAlex
W2059285008
Cited by
40
References
42
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
FWCI
1.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • OpenAgrar (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
red wine, moderate drinking, immune function, red wine polyphenols, red grape juice, cardiovascular risk, neutrophil phagocytosis, monocytes, TNF-α, interleukin-2, IL-4, TGF-beta, natural killer cells, lymphocyte proliferation, lymphocyte apoptosis, healthy men
MeSH terms
Adult, Alcohol Drinking, Flavonoids, Humans, Immunity, Cellular, Lymphocyte Activation, Male, Phagocytosis, Phenols, Wine, Single-Blind Method, Cytokines, Cross-Over Studies, Polyphenols

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