지중해식 식단에서 정의하는 적정 수준의 와인을 마시는 남성이 금주자보다 생물학적 노화가 느리다는 대규모 이탈리아 코호트 연구 결과가 발표됐다.
*International Journal of Public Health*에 게재된 몰리-사니(Moli-sani) 연구는 22,495명을 대상으로 188개 항목의 식이 빈도 설문과 36개 혈액 바이오마커를 이용한 딥러닝 기반 생물학적 나이 추정을 분석했다. 생물학적 나이에서 실제 나이를 뺀 Δage가 노화 속도 지표로 사용됐다.
참가자는 금주자, 이전 음주자, 국가 지침 기준 적정 음주자, 지중해식 식단(MD) 기준 적정 음주자(남성 125~500mL/일, 여성 62.5~250mL/일), 과음자로 분류됐다.
분석 결과, 지중해식 식단 기준 적정 와인 섭취 남성은 Δage가 금주자 대비 -0.39세(95% CI: -0.78, -0.01)였다. 용량-반응 분석에서 J자형 곡선이 확인됐으며, 하루 약 170mL 섭취 시 Δage=-0.34세로 효과가 가장 컸다. 반면 전체 알코올 섭취량은 적정량에서 중립적이었고 과음에서는 오히려 노화를 가속했다. 이 연관성은 여성에서는 관찰되지 않았다.
연구팀은 "와인 소비량이 아닌 전체 에탄올 섭취량은 적정 수준에서 중립적임을 고려하면, 와인의 비알코올 성분이 생물학적 노화 지연에 역할할 수 있다"고 밝혔다.
> 건강 팁: 이 결과는 음주를 권장하는 것이 아니다. 채소·과일·올리브 오일·통곡물 위주의 지중해식 식단은 와인 섭취 여부와 무관하게 건강 노화에 유익하다.
📖 *Moderate Wine Consumption and Delayed Biological Aging in Men: Moli-sani Study* |
PubMedMen who consume wine at levels considered moderate by Mediterranean Diet guidelines show measurably slower biological aging than abstainers, with effects following a J-shaped dose-response curve and peaking at approximately 170 millilitres per day, according to a large Italian cohort study published in the *International Journal of Public Health*.
The Moli-sani Study enrolled 22,495 participants in the Molise region of southern Italy. Dietary intake was assessed using a comprehensive 188-item food frequency questionnaire. Biological age was estimated using a deep neural network model incorporating 36 circulating biomarkers — a sophisticated tool that integrates multiple physiological signals to produce a comprehensive index of biological aging beyond simple chronological age. The primary metric was Δage: biological age minus chronological age, where a negative value indicates a body biologically younger than its calendar years.
Participants were stratified into five categories: abstainers, former drinkers, moderate drinkers by national guidelines (≤250 mL/day for men; ≤125 mL/day for women), moderate drinkers by Mediterranean Diet (MD) criteria (125–500 mL/day for men; 62.5–250 mL/day for women), and heavy drinkers.
In men, wine consumption at MD-defined moderate doses was associated with a Δage of −0.39 years compared to abstainers (95% CI: −0.78, −0.01) — a statistically significant difference indicating nearly half a year of biological age advantage. Dose-response analysis confirmed a J-shaped relationship, with the lowest Δage of −0.34 years at approximately 170 mL/day. At higher doses, the association reversed: heavy drinking was associated with accelerated biological aging.
Importantly, overall ethanol intake from all beverage types showed a neutral relationship at moderate levels and an aging-accelerating effect at high doses — suggesting that wine-specific non-alcoholic compounds (polyphenols, resveratrol) may contribute to the observed benefit. The association was not statistically significant in women.
> Health tip: This study does not recommend taking up wine drinking. The Mediterranean Diet as a whole — abundant in vegetables, fruits, olive oil, legumes, fish, and whole grains — independently supports healthy aging. Non-drinkers should not start drinking alcohol for health purposes.
📖 *Moderate Wine Consumption and Delayed Biological Aging in Men: Moli-sani Study* |
PubMed