A new study has found that people who consume moderate amounts of white wine or Champagne have a lower risk of experiencing a sudden heart attack. 

Researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai looked at the health data of more than 500,000 middle to older-aged people in the health research database the UK Biobank,

Of those tracked, 3147 suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a typical follow-up period of around 14 years. Sudden cardiac arrest is the sudden loss of all heart activity due to an irregular heart rhythm, cutting off oxygen to the brain and vital organs. 

The study concluded that nearly two-thirds of sudden cardiac arrests could be avoidable and identified 56 risk factors, such as lifestyle choices, psychological factors and socio-economic status.

However, a higher consumption of Champagne or white wine, together with more fruit, maintaining a positive mood, healthy weight management and keeping blood pressure under control were found to be the best combination for avoiding sudden heart attacks. 

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.”

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