Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on August 1, 2007
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2007 42(6):525-528; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agm056
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The effect of red wine on plasma leptin levels and vasoactive factors from adipose tissue: A randomized crossover trial
1 Department/Institute of Medical Genetics, Ullevaal University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
2 Medical Genetics Laboratory, Department of Medical Genetics, The National Hospital of Norway, Oslo, Norway
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Medical Genetics, Ullevaal University Hospital, N-0407 Oslo, Norway. Tel: +4722119890; Fax: +4722119899; E-mail: srdjan.djurovic{at}medisin.uio.no
Received 9 August 2006; first review notified 26 September 2006; in revised form 23 March 2007; accepted 4 June 2007
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Abstract |
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Aims: It has been reported that alcohol has multiple effects on appetite. To elucidate potential mechanisms we measured the levels of plasma leptin and the vasoactive factors after red wine intake. Methods: We conducted a randomized crossover trial to study the effect of red wine on the levels of leptin, TNF-
, TGF- ß1, IL-6, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in healthy, non-smoking individuals. The subjects were randomized to drinking one glass of red wine (150 ml, 15 g alcohol) every day (‘wine period’) or to undergo a period of total abstention from alcohol (‘abstention period’). After 3 weeks they switched the intervention group. Eighty-seven volunteers completed the study (mean age 50 years). Results: After 3 weeks' daily intake of red wine, plasma leptin was significantly increased (from 6308 pg/ml to 7402 pg/ml, P = 0.05). There was a marked gender difference, as leptin levels increased only in females (P = 0.012). When calculated as leptin/body mass index (BMI) ratio, the trend and results were similar. Red wine consumption had no significant effect on other vasoactive factors measured in this study. Conclusion: Red wine increases levels of the appetite-regulating hormone leptin in females, but not in males. Whether red wine has an effect on appetite-regulation in its own right, remains to be solved.