Résumé
For decades, red wine has been considered a spirituous beverage with therapeutic virtues, used by doctors and pharmacists as a remedy. Numerous studies and rumors have swirled around its image as both negative and positive for mankind. In the 1990s, however, the idea of the French paradox highlighted its image: red wine would be an alcoholic beverage with protective properties against cardiovascular disease if consumed regularly and in moderation by adults. However, French diets (charcuterie, cheese containing harmful saturated fats) may be more beneficial with red wine than in the US. But why? Red wine contains a number of chemical compounds, the majority of which are polyphenols. Resveratrol has been the subject of numerous preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating its cardioprotective, neuroprotective and anticancer properties. It still raises many questions, but there is a potential link between red wine consumption and protection against cardiovascular disease, provided that a reasonable daily intake of wine is respected.