Wine boosts omega-3 in blood the best

CAMPOBASSO, Italy, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Moderate wine intake is associated with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids -- protective against coronary heart disease, researchers in Italy said.

The European study, scheduled to be published in the January issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests wine does better than other alcoholic drinks in boosting omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and red blood cells.

The researchers examined 1,604 people from three geographical areas: London; Limburg, Belgium; and Abruzzo, Italy. All participants underwent a comprehensive medical examination, including a one-year food frequency questionnaire to assess their dietary intake, including alcohol.

Lead author Romina di Giuseppe of the Research Laboratories at Catholic University of Campobasso said people drinking moderate amounts of alcohol -- one drink a day for women and two for men -- had higher concentration of omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and red blood cells independently of their fish intake. Fish contain omega-3 fatty acids.

The study showed that the association between alcohol and omega-3 fatty acids was present in both wine drinkers and beer or spirits drinkers. However, the association between wine drinking and omega-3 fatty acids levels was stronger.