Polyphenolics and fat absorption.
OBJECTIVES: To elucidate whether the acute consumption of red wine polyphenolic compounds regulates lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in dyslipidemic postmenopausal women. DESIGN: Eight dyslipidemic postmenopausal women each consumed a mixed meal accompanied by either water, dealcoholized red wine or alcoholic red wine on three separate visits, in a random order, 2 weeks apart. One fasting and six hourly postmeal blood samples were taken and analyzed for plasma apolipoprotein B48 (apoB48; specific marker of chylomicrons (CM) and their remnants (CMR)); total-, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol; triglycerides (TAG); insulin and glucose at each time point. RESULTS: There was a decrease in postprandial apoB48 levels after alcoholic and nonalcoholic red wine consumption compared to water. CONCLUSION: Red wine attenuates postprandial CM and CMR levels in plasma, possibly by delaying the absorption of dietary fat, as suggested by a decrease in plasma apoB48 levels. The reduction of postprandial lipoproteins in circulation after red wine consumption may partly explain the low cardiovascular mortality rates among the French.