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A glass of wine a day is good for your heart only if you exercise, if new findings are any indication. Low to moderate consumption of wine when combined with exercise can cut risk of heart disease, the study concludes.  

According to the study that was presented by Professor Milos Taborsky at the ongoing ESC Congress in Barcelona, for people with mild to moderate risk of cardio-vascular disease, consumption of moderate quantities of white or red wine combined with exercise at least twice a week would result in reduction of LDL and increase in HDL, the two indicators for heart disease risk reduction.

"This is the first randomised trial comparing the effects of red and white wine on markers of atherosclerosis in people at mild to moderate risk of CVD. We found that moderate wine drinking was only protective in people who exercised. Red and white wine produced the same results," Taborsky was quoted saying by Medical Xpress.

Describing the study, Economic Times reported 146 participants were part of the year-long research project. The subjects were asked to keep a log book of their alcohol consumption along with details of medication use and nature of exercise. Two groups were made based on consumption of either white or red wine. As per WHO definition, moderate consumption is intake of 0.2 L of wine for women and 0.3 L for men five times per week.   

Reporting the study Business Standard noted there was no difference between HDL levels in both groups though LDL levels were lower.

"A rise in HDL cholesterol is the main indication of a protective effect against CVD, therefore we can conclude that neither red nor white wine had any impact on study participants as a whole," Business Standard quoted Taborsky. 

"The only positive and continuous result was in the subgroup of patients who took more exercise, which means regular exercise at least twice a week, plus the wine consumption."