Nonalcoholic components in wine reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterolin normocholesterolemic rats

Using an experimental model that enables the effects of alcohol to be disti nguished from the effects of the nonalcoholic components present in wine, w e determined whether wine has effects other than those of alcohol on the me tabolism of cholesterol. Male rats were fed a standard diet and had free ac cess to water and either wine or an equivalent alcohol solution for 45 d or 6 mon. Alcohol intake was similar in the two groups of animals. Consumptio n of the alcohol solution or wine did not influence plasma cholesterol or h igh density lipoprotein-cholesterol. At 45 d, the consumption both of wine and of alcohol solution reduced low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol a nd very low density lipoprotein cholesterol. At 6 mon, only the rats that c onsumed wine had reduced LDL-cholesterol. After 45 d of consuming alcohol s olution, total cholesterol in the aorta was significantly increased mainly as a result of the rise in free cholesterol. In the aorta, the effect of wi ne consumption was similar to the effect of alcohol solution consumption, a lthough it was less intense. The only clear effect that could be ascribed t o the nonalcoholic components in wine was that the LDL-cholesterol was redu ced in the long term, although aortic cholesterol was not.