Exploring the potential of champagne and white wine in lowering the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
In July 2025, a significant study was published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, shedding light on the potential association between the consumption of sparkling wine and fruit, and a lower risk of sudden cardiac death. The research, based on health data from over 500,000 people in the UK, identified 56 modifiable factors associated with sudden cardiac death.
However, it's important to note that the study did not consider other variables such as lifestyle factors. The methodology used, Mendelian randomization, has its limitations, and the extensive database observed in the study increases the probability of association of these factors, but it does not necessarily mean a cause-effect relationship.
Ricardo Ladeiras Lopes, a cardiologist at Hospital da Luz and professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, explains that there is no robust evidence in that direction. Dr. Lopes suggests that a randomized study, involving 100,000 people over 10 years, with half consuming champagne, could potentially prove a relationship between champagne consumption and a lower risk of sudden death from heart disease.
In healthy individuals without known heart disease, light to moderate alcohol consumption is not harmful, according to usual nutritional recommendations. Red wine is theoretically the least harmful type of drink due to its antioxidant effects. However, alcohol can worsen heart disease and is hardly recommended for those with heart disease.
Within a balanced, healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption does not seem to have a detrimental component, according to Dr. Lopes. This finding is in line with the study's conclusion, which states that higher consumption rates of champagne and/or white wine and fruit intake are associated with a lower risk of sudden death.
It's crucial to remember that this association does not mean there is a cause-effect relationship. The study's findings should be considered as a potential lead for further research, rather than definitive evidence. As Dr. Lopes himself points out, a study of such scale and duration is currently impractical.
In the broader context, sudden cardiac death represents 20% of all deaths, with an incidence of about 1 per 1,000 inhabitants per year. Understanding the factors associated with this type of death is a crucial step towards developing preventive measures and improving public health.
