Red wine lowers bad cholesterol but doesn’t improve overall heart health

By Dr. Chinta SidharthanReviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Mar 24 2025

A sweeping meta-analysis reveals that while red wine may nudge down LDL cholesterol, its broader heart health benefits remain uncertain—reminding us that moderation and lifestyle still reign supreme.

Review: The effects of wine consumption and lipid profile: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Image Credit: Lukas Gojda / Shutterstock

Red wine has long been thought to have a positive impact on cardiovascular health. With heart disease remaining the leading cause of death globally, researchers are constantly exploring ways to manage cardiovascular risks. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging investigated the impact of wine consumption on cholesterol and lipid levels, revealing mixed but intriguing results.

Diet and cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular disease is a major global health concern, and an unhealthy lipid profile, consisting of high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides, alongside low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), is a significant risk factor. While cholesterol-lowering medications like statins are effective, they come with side effects, prompting researchers to explore alternative strategies.

Diet plays a crucial role in heart health. The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and olive oil and includes moderate wine consumption, is frequently associated with cardiovascular benefits. Red wine, in particular, is thought to improve cholesterol levels due to its polyphenols and antioxidants, which may reduce LDL oxidation and improve HDL levels.

However, alcohol consumption is a double-edged sword, with excessive intake linked to increased health risks. While some studies suggest that moderate wine consumption might positively influence lipid profiles, the evidence remains inconsistent.

The current study

To better understand the effects of wine on lipid profiles, the researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials and pre-post studies. They included a total of 33 studies in the systematic review and 29 in the meta-analysis. The studies involved participants over the age of 18 and covered a diverse range of populations across different countries.

The researchers searched major scientific databases to compile a list of studies that specifically examined wine consumption and its impact on cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, and fibrinogen levels. The studies included both pre-post designs, where participants’ lipid profiles were measured before and after wine consumption, and controlled clinical trials comparing wine drinkers with non-drinkers.

The review assessed the quality and reliability of the studies using standardized tools. They also performed statistical analyses to determine the consistency of findings across different studies, taking into account variations in wine type (red vs. white), consumption levels, and duration of intervention.

This approach allowed them to assess the short—and long-term effects of wine consumption on lipid parameters. Importantly, they also evaluated the influence of key factors such as age, gender, and study duration to determine whether these variables played a role in the outcomes.

By synthesizing data from multiple studies, the researchers aimed to provide a clearer picture of whether moderate wine consumption could be beneficial for cardiovascular health and, if so, which lipid markers showed the most significant changes.

Major findings

The study found that moderate red wine consumption had a measurable impact on LDL cholesterol, showing a small but statistically significant reduction. This suggested that red wine may help lower the levels of LDL, which is considered bad cholesterol, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease. However, this significant effect was only observed in pre-post studies and not in randomized clinical trials.

The results for total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL were inconclusive. While some individual studies showed improvements, the overall analysis did not find consistent evidence supporting a significant benefit. There was also no significant effect observed for fibrinogen levels. Interestingly, the study did find that the duration of wine consumption influenced the results, with interventions that were longer showing greater effects on triglyceride and cholesterol levels compared to shorter studies.

Additionally, white wine was found not to produce any statistically significant changes in lipid profiles. Unlike red wine, which contains higher levels of polyphenols and antioxidants, white wine appeared to have a negligible impact on cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

The researchers also noted that while moderate wine consumption showed some benefits, excessive intake could have the opposite effect, leading to increased triglyceride levels and other health risks. They emphasized that alcohol should not be considered a primary method for improving heart health and that lifestyle factors such as a balanced diet and regular exercise remain more effective strategies.

The study also acknowledged several limitations, including variability in study designs, differences in wine consumption amounts, and potential biases in some trials. More than half of the clinical trials and pre-post studies were found to have moderate to high risk of bias, particularly in randomization and outcome measurement. Additionally, the authors were unable to establish a clear dose-response relationship or determine the most effective type of wine. Despite these limitations, the findings suggested that moderate red wine consumption may have a modest role in supporting cardiovascular health, particularly in reducing LDL cholesterol.

Conclusions

Overall, this review's findings suggested that moderate red wine consumption may help lower LDL cholesterol, although its effects on other lipid parameters remain unclear. While wine may have some heart-health benefits, it should not replace proven methods such as a healthy diet and exercise.

The authors stress that no safe threshold for alcohol consumption has been universally established, and wine should be consumed cautiously, particularly in vulnerable populations such as those with medical conditions or those taking multiple medications. Moreover, further research is needed to fully understand the impact of wine consumption on heart health. However, as always, moderation is key, and the researchers warn that excessive alcohol consumption can do more harm than good.