Molecular biologists at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine recently published findings that show white wine can protect against heart damage in similar ways to red wine. Researchers gave different groups of lab rats red or white wine in their diets. They also gave other groups polyphenols, which have been hypothesized to be the main substances in wine responsible for its health benefits. One of the polyphenols was resveratrol, which is found in red wine and has been linked to health benefits in other studies. Additionally, some rats were given the polyphenols tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol which are found in white wine.

The researchers found that when rats that had been fed red or white wine had heart attacks, their cells experienced much less damage than rats that had been given only water or liquor. Similar benefits were seen for the rats that had been given the polyphenol compounds. Such a finding for red wine and resveratrol is not surprising given the previous research on the compound, but finding that white wine and white wine polyphenols offer similar benefits is encouraging news. The scientists believe that it's possible that the polyphenols are similar enough to each other that they operate inside cells in much the same way. So if you're a white wine lover, you can feel good knowing your red wine drinking friends aren't the only ones drinking to their health!