Effect of moderate wine consumption on the activity of enzymes involved in platelet activating factor metabolism and thrombotic biomarkers

A randomised parallel intervention study was conducted with male patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Participants were assigned to three groups: Group A abstained from alcohol (n=20), Group B consumed red wine (n=21) and Group C (n=16) consumed an alcoholic beverage without wine micro-constituents. Biological samples were collected at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. Enzyme activities of acetyl-CoA:lyso-PAF acetyltransferase (LysoPAF-AT), CDP-choline:1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol cholinephosphotransferase (PAF-CPT), PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) in leukocyte homogenates, serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2 (LpPLA2) and plasma markers of thrombosis were measured. PAF-, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-, and collagen-induced platelet aggregation were measured in human platelet-rich plasma.
Red wine consumption led to 15.3% reduction in LysoPAF-AT activity at 4 weeks compared to baseline and Group A. PAF-CPT activity was reduced by 11.1% at 8 weeks compared to baseline, and by 24.9% compared to Group C. PAF-AH activity was reduced by 36.2% at 8 weeks compared to baseline and compared to Group A and Group C. Fibrinogen levels in Group B reduced by 6-9% at 4 and 8 weeks compared to baseline while d-dimer in Group C increased by 16.1% at 8 weeks (compared to baseline. Platelet aggregation against PAF and collagen was reduced in Group B (82.6% and 35.4%, respectively), and in Group C (158.4% and 37.1%, respectively) compared to baseline and Group A.
In conclusion, moderate wine consumption improved the activity of PAF-metabolism enzymes regardless of ethanol and reduced platelet aggregation probably through mechanisms different from those of ethanol.
Source: Fragopoulou E, Argyrou C, Matalliotaki E, et al. (2025) Effect of moderate wine consumption on the activity of enzymes involved in Platelet Activating Factor metabolism and thrombotic biomarkers: A randomized, single-blind, parallel, clinical study in coronary heart disease men patients. Bri J Nutrit, 1-28.