Study Finds Red Wine Destroys Bacteria That Cause Lung Infections, Heart Disease

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago report that both red wine and resveratrol may be effective killers of a bacteria known to cause lung infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis and even contribute to heart disease. The study was published in the December 2003 issue of the medical journal Atherosclerosis.

The airborne bacteria, called Chlamydia pneumoniae, is responsible for 5 percent to 30 percent of respiratory-tract infections worldwide, according to studies cited in the research. In addition, a growing body of evidence shows that the bacteria may spread from the lungs into the bloodstream, possibly leading to plaque buildup in the arteries and thereby contributing to heart disease.