Dec 09 (HeartCenterOnline) - A new study has identified another heart-healthy benefit to moderate red wine consumption. According to new research, a compound in red wine called resveratrol may help to prevent the effect of cardiac fibrosis.

Cardiac fibrosis is a condition that occurs when heart cells called fibroblasts are activated by diseases such as hypertension or heart failure. The fibroblasts secrete collagen, a binding protein that can reduce the pumping efficiency of the heart at high levels.

In the study, which appeared in the current edition of the American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, resveratrol was shown to inhibit the actions of a powerful hormone called angiotensin II, which activates fibroblasts. Angiotensin II is produced at high levels during hypertension or heart failure as the body tries to repair the damaged heart tissue. However, in most cases, angiotensin II over- stimulates the fibroblasts, leading to excessive collagen secretion.

In rat hearts, resveratrol inhibited angiotensin II's ability to cause growth and stimulation of cardiac fibroblasts. It also prevented fibroblasts from changing into myofibroblasts, a specialized cell that secretes large amounts of collagen.

The researchers couldn't say how much resveratrol was needed to gain these beneficial effects, but most previous studies have suggested that drinking one or two 5-ounce glasses of red wine a day may have heart protective benefits. At greater levels, the damage caused by alcohol may outweigh any health benefits conferred by the wine.

Other studies have shown that resveratrol may help prevent blood clots and possibly reduce cholesterol. This is the first study to show that resveratrol may help prevent cardiac fibrosis.

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