Effect of moderate wine consumption on the activity of enzymes involved in Platelet Activating Factor metabolism and thrombotic biomarkers: A randomized, single-blind, parallel, clinical study in coronary heart disease men patients

Abstract

A randomized parallel intervention study was conducted with male patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Participants were assigned to three groups: Group A abstained from alcohol (n=20), Group B consumed red wine (n=21) and Group C (n=16) consumed an alcoholic beverage without wine micro-constituents. Biological samples were collected at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. Enzyme activities of acetyl-CoA:lyso-PAF acetyltransferase (LysoPAF-AT), CDP-choline:1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol cholinephosphotransferase (PAF-CPT), PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) in leukocyte homogenates, serum lipoprotein associated phospholipase-A₂ (LpPLA₂) and plasma markers of thrombosis were measured. PAF-, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-, and collagen- induced platelet aggregation was measured in human platelet rich plasma.

Red wine consumption led to 15.3% reduction in LysoPAF-AT activity at 4 weeks (p=0.008) compared to baseline and Group A (p=0.01). PAF-CPT activity was reduced by 11.1% at 8 weeks (p=0.04) compared to baseline, and by 24.9% compared to Group C (p=0.02). PAF-AH activity was reduced by 36.2% at 8 weeks compared to baseline (p=0.001) and compared to Group A (p<0.000) and Group C (p=0.009). Fibrinogen levels in Group B reduced by 6-9% at 4 (p=0.04) and 8 weeks (p=0.01) compared to baseline while d-dimer in Group C increased by 16.1% at 8 weeks (p=0.005) compared to baseline. Platelet aggregation against PAF and collagen was reduced in Group B (82.6% and 35.4%, respectively), and in Group C (158.4% and 37.1%, respectively) compared to baseline and Group A (p<0.05).

In conclusion, moderate wine consumption improved the activity of PAF-metabolism enzymes regardless of ethanol and reduced platelet aggregation probably through mechanisms different from those of ethanol.