| Summary: | Background: Hypertension remains the largest attributable risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and a reduction of cardiovascular events is linked to diminished elevated blood pressure (BP) values. High alcohol intake is a common cause of hypertension, but some studies have suggested that moderate wine consumption may reduce BP and increase plasma nitric oxide (NO) due to its polyphenol content. Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of Andalusian aged white wine (AWW) under a veil of flor, an alcoholic beverage with a moderate polyphenol content, with those of gin, an alcoholic beverage without polyphenols, on BP and plasma NO in men at high cardiovascular risk. Methods: This study was designed as an open, randomized crossover-controlled trial in which 38 high-risk male volunteers, aged 55 to 80, received 30 g of ethanol daily in the form of AWW or gin. This was carried out over the course of three weeks, after a two-week washout period. At baseline and after each intervention period, BP, anthropometric parameters, and plasma NO were measured; food intake was also recorded, and physical activity was monitored. Results: Compared to gin, AWW significantly reduced systolic and diastolic BP (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.033; both) and increased plasma NO levels (<i>p</i> = 0.013). Additionally, changes in BP values observed after AWW significantly correlated with increases in plasma NO. No changes in food intake, physical activity, body weight, or waist were observed between the two intervention periods. Conclusions: Moderate daily consumption of AWW may be useful to reduce elevated BP due to an increase of NO synthesis. This effect could be attributed to grape-derived compounds in AWW, such as polyphenols, which are not present in gin.
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