The effect of red wine on plasma leptin levels and vasoactive factors from adipose tissue: a randomized crossover trial.

AIMS It has been reported that alcohol has multiple effects on appetite. To elucidate potential mechanisms we measured the levels of plasma leptin and the vasoactive factors after red wine intake. METHODS We conducted a randomized crossover trial to study the effect of red wine on the levels of leptin, TNF-alpha, TGF- beta(1), IL-6, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in healthy, non-smoking individuals. The subjects were randomized to drinking one glass of red wine (150 ml, 15 g alcohol) every day ('wine period') or to undergo a period of total abstention from alcohol ('abstention period'). After 3 weeks they switched the intervention group. Eighty-seven volunteers completed the study (mean age 50 years). RESULTS After 3 weeks' daily intake of red wine, plasma leptin was significantly increased (from 6308 pg/ml to 7402 pg/ml, P = 0.05). There was a marked gender difference, as leptin levels increased only in females (P = 0.012). When calculated as leptin/body mass index (BMI) ratio, the trend and results were similar. Red wine consumption had no significant effect on other vasoactive factors measured in this study. CONCLUSION Red wine increases levels of the appetite-regulating hormone leptin in females, but not in males. Whether red wine has an effect on appetite-regulation in its own right, remains to be solved.