04-2018-GL-FINAL

11. Preventing
dementia
A team from Loyola
University Medical Center
found that moderate red
wine intake can reduce
the risk of developing
dementia.
A long-term study of
data from 19 nations
found a statistically
significant lower risk of
dementia among regular,
moderate red wine
drinkers in 14 countries.
Resveratrol, explained
the investigators, is
key to this benefit. By
reducing the stickiness of
blood platelets, it helps
keep the blood vessels
open and flexible, and
this promotes a good
supply of blood to the
brain.
Red and white wines
both contain resveratrol,
but red wine has more.
The skin of red grapes
has very high levels
of resveratrol. The
manufacturing process
of red wine, involves
prolonged contact with
grape skins.
The researchers note:
"We don't recommend
that nondrinkers
start drinking. But
moderate drinking, if it
is truly moderate, can be
beneficial." A 2015 study
found that a high dose of
resveratrol appeared to
stabilize a key biomarker
for Alzheimer's. The
amount needed, however,
is far higher than anyone
would get from a glass
of wine. The participants
took a-1 gram (g)
supplement by mouth
twice a day, equivalent
to the amount in 1,000
bottles of wine.
12. Reducing
risk of
depression
A team of researchers
from Spain reported in
2013 that drinking wine
may reduce the risk of
depression.
A study of data for
around 5,500 men
and women aged from
55 to 80 years over a
7-year period showed
that those who drank
between two and seven
glasses of wine each
week were less likely to
receive a diagnosis of
depression, even after
taking lifestyle factors
into consideration.
13. Protecting
from severe
sunburn
Wine and grape
derivatives can help
protect the skin from
the damaging effects of
UV light from the sun,
according to scientists
from Spain.
The team found that
when UV rays make
contact with human skin,
they activate reactive
oxygen species (ROS),
which oxidize fats,
DNA, and other large
molecules. These, in turn,
stimulate other enzymes
that harm skin cells.
Wine and grapes contain
flavonoids. These inhibit
the formation of the
ROS in skin cells that are
exposed to sunlight.
Rather than drinking
more wine, however,
the researchers suggest
incorporating grapes and
grape derivatives into
sun protection products.
14. Preventing
liver disease
Modest wine
consumption may cut the
risk of nonalcoholic fatty
liver disease (NAFLD)
by half in those who are
at risk of the condition,
compared with never
drinking wine.
The finding, published
by researchers from the
University of California
San Diego School of
Medicine, is controversial.
They note that only
moderate consumption
will bring benefits, and
they
12 April 2018