Objective: Cardiovascular risk factors are associated with decreased levels of circulating progenitor cells (CPC). The aim of this study was to determine whether the moderate consumption of red wine leads to an increase of CPCs.
Methods: CD34 positive and CD133/CD34 as well as CD117/CD34 double positive cells were measured by FACS analysis in peripheral blood of 15 obese patients suffering from type II diabetes with stable oral drug treatment (67.3 ± 2.3 years, BMI 32.3 ± 0.5 kg/ m
2
) prior to and after a six week period of drinking two units (300 ml) of red wine (Lemberger Classic, Württemberg, Germany). The drinking period was anticipated by a four week fasting period, in which no alcohol consumption was allowed at all. In addition, brachial artery flow mediated dilatation was determined prior to and after the drinking period.
Results: The six week drinking period had no effect on BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose levels, HbA1c-values and liver enzymes. There was a non-significant drop in LDL cholesterol, but no change in HDL cholesterol. Concerning CPCs, the following alterations were observed: CD34+ cells increased from 171 ± 22 to 354 ± 28 per million leucocytes. Within the CD34+ cells, the percentage of CD133+ cells increased from 30.8 ± 5.7 % to 53.1 ± 3.3 %, and the percentage of CD117+ cells increased from 38.1 ± 5.8 % to 57.5 ± 4.6 % (p<0.05 for all parameters). Brachial artery flow mediated dilatation increased from 5.57 ± 0.74 % to 11.13 ± 1.34 % (p<0.05) in response to six weeks of red wine consumption. Nitroglycerin mediated brachial artery dilatation increased from 7.45 ± 1.09 % to 11.31 ± 1.09 % (p<0.05).
Conclusion: In obese patients suffering from type II diabetes, moderate consumption of red wine leads to a significant improvement of circulating progenitor cell count and endothelial function. No adverse effects of wine consumption on metabolic and cardiovascular parameters were observed.
Effect of blood pressure variability on endothelial function assessed by brachial artery flow mediated dilatation