Concomitant consumption of red wine and polyunsaturated fatty acids in edible oil does not influence the peroxidation status of chylomicron lipids despite increasing plasma catechin concentration.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Atherosclerosis may be ameliorated by red wine consumption possibly by providing antioxidants. The effects of red wine on the peroxidation status of chylomicrons (CM) are unknown. The aims were to compare the lipid peroxidation status of oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from a standardised high-fat meal with that of the CM at peak concentrations following ingestion of the meal with and without wine, and to examine the contribution of wine to the antioxidant content of the plasma.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Fasted subjects ingested the meal randomly with and without red wine. The peroxidation status was described by conjugated dienes (CD), lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). CM lag times and the area under the curve (AUC) of CD were determined under oxidative stress. Plasma catechin concentrations and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values were determined. The CM produced with and without wine did not differ in their concentration of CD, LOOH and TBARS. Lag times of CM with and without wine were not significantly different, nor were the AUC. Plasma catechin values increased significantly after consumption of wine with the meal, whereas ORAC values did not.

CONCLUSION: Red wine consumption increases plasma catechins, but does not influence lipid peroxidation in postprandial CM.