Champagne ‘protects' heart from cardiac arrest

Telegraph

29-04-2025

Champagne and white wine 'protect' the heart from cardiac arrest, new research has suggested.
Experts found that drinking wine, eating more fruit and keeping slim were all linked to a lower risk of a sudden cardiac arrest.
Some 30,000 Britons each year suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (which is different from a heart attack). This occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, and emergency resuscitation is required to start it again. Researchers said thousands of people could prevent it by tackling health and lifestyle issues, as they identified 56 risk factors.
But an 'intriguing' finding of the research was that champagne and white wine seemed to produce a 'protective effect' on the heart.
The research team, led by Fudan University in Shanghai, China, found that a higher consumption of white wine, more fruit, a consistent positive mood, maintaining a healthy weight and keeping blood pressure under control all seemed to protect against a cardiac arrest.
People who were more educated also seemed less prone to cardiac arrest, the study, published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, suggested. Poor sleep patterns and a lack of exercise could be detrimental.
No 'fed-up feelings'
The study identified 56 risk factors associated with sudden cardiac arrest and found up to 63 per cent of cases might be avoidable if people changed unhealthy habits. It looked at 502,094 middle-aged to older people included in the UK Biobank's data.
Of these, 3,147 people suffered sudden cardiac arrest during an average follow-up period of 13.8 years.
The authors concluded that between 40 per cent and 63 per cent of sudden cardiac arrest cases may be avoidable when looking at all 56 risk factors, which included lifestyle factors, socio-economic status, and the local environment, such as exposure to air pollution.
For lifestyle factors, researchers found that a higher consumption of champagne and/or white wine and fruit intake protected against cardiac arrest, while 'fed-up' feelings, high body mass indexes (BMIs) and arm fat mass, high blood pressure, and lower education level all increased the risk.
It found that the risk for regular champagne and white wine drinkers was about 30 per cent lower.
Dr Huihuan Luo, the lead investigator from Fudan University, said: 'The study found significant associations between various modifiable factors and sudden cardiac arrest, with lifestyle changes being the most impactful in preventing cases.'
'More complex than previously assumed'
In an accompanying editorial, Nicholas Grubic, from the University of Toronto, and Dakota Gustafson, from Queen's University in Ontario, said: 'One of the study's most intriguing findings is the cardioprotective effect associated with champagne and white wine consumption, questioning long-held assumptions about the specificity of red wine's cardioprotective properties.
'Research on the underlying mechanisms remains unclear, but these findings reinforce the idea that the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption may be more complex than previously assumed.'
Previous research has found that the polyphenols found in wine, which have typically been associated with red wine, can play a role in lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease.
These antioxidants can be found in all types of wine but are lower in white varieties. Despite this, the research suggests they may help to protect the body's heart.
Experts believe the antioxidants found in alcoholic drinks can help to protect the heart and other body cells as well as the brain, with some researchers suggesting it can ward off dementia.
However, the research, which found a link rather than cause, has not taken into account the other potential harms that alcohol can cause or whether there is a net benefit to having a glass of wine.