BACKGROUND: Since early 90', growing body of evidence indicates that the Mediterranean diet with mild to moderate consumption of wine, mostly red wine, has a protective effect on cardiovascular diseases. Several mechanisms have been discussed to participate in the beneficial effect of red wine, such as antioxidant or vasodilating activity. However, later it has been shown that also other alcoholic beverages have a protective effect on atherosclerosis. Up to now, data from the prospective, long-term, head-to-head comparisons of the effects of different drinks on markers of atherosclerosis are insufficient. METHODS: The IVV (in vino veritas) study is a long-term, prospective, multicenter, randomized trial comparing the effect of red and white wines on the markers of atherosclerosis. One hundred and twenty healthy subjects with mild to moderate risk of atherosclerosis will be randomized to regular consumption of red wine (Pinot Noir) or white wine (Chardonnay-Pinot) for one year. The primary endpoint is the level of HDL-cholesterol at one year, while secondary endpoints are levels of other markers of atherosclerosis (LDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase, advanced oxidation protein product, interleukins 6 and 18, matrix metalloproteinases, glutathione s-transferase, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, soluble CD40L). CONCLUSION: The IVV trial is the first study focusing on the long-term prospective comparison of the effects of red and white wines consumption on HDL-cholesterol and other markers of atherosclerosis. Results of the IVV trial may extend our understanding of the widely discussed "French paradox" (Tab. 1, Ref. 21)

Olomouc University Hospital Olomouc Czech Republic

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