A possible subcellular mechanism underlying the "French paradox": The opening of mitochondrial K _ATP channels

A reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease has been associated to moderate red wine consumption. We tested whether a nonalcoholic red wine extract would open mitochondrial K ^ATP channels in guinea pig myocytes. The opening of mitochondrial KATP channels was assessed by endogenous flavoprotein fluorescence. Red wine extract (100 mg·mL ^-1) increased flavoprotein oxidation (10.9% ± 1.2%, n = 20). This effect was prevented by the mitochondrial K ^ATP channel blocker, 5-hydroxydecanoate (500 μmol·L ^-1; 0.3% ± 1.1%, n = 13), confirming the hypothesis that red wine extract opens mitochondrial K ^ATP channels.