terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Congress on Grapevine and Wine Sciences 9 2ICGWS-2023 9 Moderate wine consumption – part of a balanced diet or a health risk?

Moderate wine consumption – part of a balanced diet or a health risk?

Abstract

Consumption of wine/alcoholic beverages remains a topic of great uncertainty and controversy worldwide.  The term “no safe level” dominates the media communication and policy ever since population studies in 2018 [1,2] were published, which denied the existence of a J-curve and suggested that ANY consumption of an alcoholic beverage is harmful to health. The scientific evidence accumulated during the past decades about the health benefits of moderate wine consumption, were questioned and drinking guidelines considered to be too loose. As a consequence, during the last few years, the upper limit of low-risk alcohol consumption has been progressively lowered in the national drinking guidelines. 

Although the authors of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study concluded in 2018 that it would be best for overall health to avoid drinking at all, the same GBD scientists in 2022, corrected their own previous data.  In their 2022 update [3] – different from the 2018 publication – the alcohol-related health risks in every country were considered. The results showed that the risks from the consumption of alcoholic beverages vary greatly depending on the disease, age and region. Based on these new results, a moderate consumption of wine/alcoholic beverages for individuals above 40 years of age can provide health benefits, such as a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The influence of moderate wine/alcohol consumption on health was described by a J-shaped curve. Excessive drinking is always associated with an increased risk of death and various health risks.

What are the reasons for such contrary results and what is the practical significance of “global calculations” in both GBD studies?  What does it mean for the wine consumer? The latest scientific evidence of moderate wine consumption in the context a healthy lifestyle and diet will be discussed, as well as how the communication of the Wine in Moderation initiative builds on objective scientific facts.

  1. Gakidou, E.,(2018) Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet, 392(10152):1015-1035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31310-2
  2. Wood, A.M., et al., Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption: combined analysis of individual-participant data for 599 912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies. Lancet, 2018. 391(10129):1513-1523 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30134-X
  3. Gakidou, E. and G.A. Collaborators, Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020. Lancet, 2022. 400(10347):185-235 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00847-9.

DOI:

Publication date: October 19, 2023

Issue: ICGWS 2023

Type: Article

Authors

Ursula Fradera1

1Deutsche Weinakademie, Platz des Weines 2, 55294 Bodenheim, Germany

Contact the author*

Keywords

alcohol, wine, benefits, health risks, global burden of disease

Tags

2ICGWS | ICGWS | ICGWS 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Advancing grapevine science through genomic research

The seminar will examine the complexities and prospects of genomic research on Vitis species, characterize by exceptionally high heterozygosity and common interspecific gene flow. The seminar will showcase case studies highlighting the critical role of diploid genome references in grape research, specifically in areas such as aroma development, disease resistance, and domestication traits. It will also address the emerging focus on pangenomes within the Vitis genus, particularly in the context of genetic studies on naturally interbreeding populations.

Read More

The exploitation of Croatian grapevine genetic resources for the breeding of new resistant cultivars 

Croatian viticulture is mainly based on native grapevine varieties susceptible to various diseases and pests, which leads to unsustainable use of large amounts of pesticides. The sustainable development of viticulture in the future will only be possible by increasing the resistance of the grapevine through the development of new resistant varieties. Breeding programs have been launched in the leading wine-growing countries to develop resistant varieties possessing high-quality levels. Native cultivars from Croatia are not included in the breeding programs of other countries.

Read More

Inert gases persistence in wine storage tank blanketing

It is common to find tanks in the winery with wine below their capacity due to wine transfers between tanks of different capacities or the interruption of operations for periods of a few days. This situation implies the existence of an ullage space in the tank with prolonged contact with the wine causing its absorption/oxidation. Oxygen uptake from the air headspace over the wine due to differences in the partial pressure of O2 can be rapid, up to 1.5 mL of O2 per liter of wine in one hour and 100 cm2 of surface area1 and up to saturation after 4 hours.

Read More

“Compost Application in the Vineyard: Effects on Soil Nutrition and Compaction”

The mechanization of pruning and harvesting in vineyards has increased the risk of soil compaction. To reclaim soil properties or avoid this degradation process, it is crucial to properly manage the soil organic matter, and the application of compost derived from the vines themselves is a strategy to achieve this. The objective of this study was to evaluate the properties of soil treated with different doses of compost applied both on the vine row and the inter rows of a Vitis vinifera crop.

Read More

Chemical and microbiological evaluation of Ribeiro wines (NW Spain)

Wine produced under Designation of Origin (DOP) Ribeiro, the oldest DOP in Galicia (NW Spain), are elaborated using local grape cultivars, grown at the valleys of Miño, Avia and Arnoia rivers. The landscape formed by slopes and terraces and the peculiar climate of continental character, softened by the proximity of Atlantic Ocean, make it an area of excellent aptitude for vine cultivation. In addition, small-scale farming and the use of traditional techniques for vineyard management provide a great diversity to Ribeiro wines. This study presents the evaluation of red and white wines (bottled or bulk wines) from DOP Ribeiro, produced between years 2018-2022.

Read More