Objective: To evaluate the in vivo effects of moderate consumption of red wine, beer and spirits on antioxidants, antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant capacity. Design: Randomized, diet-controlled, cross-over study. Subjects: Twelve apparently healthy, non-smoking middle-aged men were included; 11 of them completed the study. Interventions: Each subject consumed four glasses of red wine, beer, spirits and water (negative control) with evening dinner during four successive periods of 3 weeks, daily at the Institute. The total diet was supplied to the subjects and had essential the same composition during these 12 weeks. Results: Neither the enzyme activities of serum glutathion peroxidase, erythrocyte glutathion reductase and superoxide dismutase nor the plasma concentrations of a-and g-tocopherol, lutein, zeaxantin, b-cryptoxanthin, lycopene and a-carotene were affected. Plasma b-carotene concentrations were decreased after 3 weeks H consumption of red wine, beer and spirits (40 g alcoholaday) as compared to consumption of water, by 15% (P 0.0005), 11% (P 0.010) and 13% (P 0.003), respectively. Also, plasma ascorbic acid was decreased after beer (15%, P 0.004) and spirits (12%, P 0.030), but not after wine consumption. Serum uric acid concentrations were increased after consumption of beer (15%, P`0.0001), spirits (8%, P 0.008) and red wine (9%, P 0.003). The overall serum antioxidant capacity, assessed as Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), was similar for all treatments. Conclusions: Moderate consumption of red wine, beer and spirits has counteracting effects on plasma antioxidant components, resulting in no signi®cant effect on overall antioxidant status. The effects on antioxidant parameters are largely independent of the type of alcoholic beverage, and probably irrelevant to chronic disease risk.