no less crazy than most of the fruitbat stuff out there....

[Ken Gargett]

a couple of recent reports...

Wine's Potential Covid Protection

A major British study shows that a few glasses of Pinot might lower your risk of contracting Covid.

W. Blake Gray·Saturday, 22-Jan-2022

  

© APA | That glass of Merlot could be standing between you and Covid.

First, the good news: Red wine, white wine and Champagne may reduce your risk of getting Covid-19 – especially red wine!

But here's a little bad news: Drinking beer and cider might actually increase your risk of getting Covid-19, as might drinking too much of anything.

Related stories:

Wine's Health Benefits Questioned

Wine "Supertasters" and Covid Resistance

Where to Now for Alcohol Health Research?

A study released this month in the academic publication Frontiers of Nutrition used a population of 473,957 people in the UK who are part of a long-term medical study called the UK Biobank. It consists of volunteers who allow the UK National Health Service to follow every aspect of their health as they age.

Strangely for a study with UK subjects, the analysis was performed by six scientists in China, led by Xi-jian Dai and four colleagues at the Shenzhen Mental Health Centre. They basically correlated the data for Covid-19 positivity with self-reported data about how much participants drink, and what they drink.

Before I dive into the study, keep in mind this is correlation data, not causation. Wine-Searcher had an exclusive story last year about research in China that tannic acid inhibits the coronavirus in a lab; that study put tannic acid and coronavirus into a teeny tiny ring and let them fight it out. This is different. We don't know if some factor (like wealth) leads people to both drink red wine and also wear masks and avoid indoor raves.

With that proviso, let's get to what the study showed.

First, people who don't drink at all had a higher risk of getting Covid-19 than people who drink.

The risk of getting Covid-19 was 10-17 percent lower for people who drink red wine. Unlike with other alcoholic beverages, the effect did not significantly diminish for people until they got above 14 glasses per week. This is good news!

The study lumps white wine and Champagne drinkers together, and it uses the word "Champagne", not sparkling wine, so we will too.

White wine drinkers had a 7-8 percent lower risk of Covid-19 if they drink fewer than five glasses per week, but the protective effect goes away at higher consumption than that.

Fortified wine drinkers had a 12 percent lower risk of Covid-19, but only if they restrain themselves to no more than two glasses per week.

Spirits was Covid-19 neutral up to four glasses per week; more than that is associated with greater Covid-19 risk.

The downside

Unfortunately, the alcohol is cumulative, and drinkers who had more alcohol than the UK guidelines of 14 "units" of alcohol per week (i.e. glasses of wine) had a higher risk of Covid-19 than people who stayed within the guidelines. So you can have two glasses of red wine per day, but no more than that AND no other alcohol if you want the protective effect (assuming there is one.)

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about the study is that beer and cider drinkers have a higher risk of Covid-19 starting at just one glass per week; the risk is 28 percent higher at five or more glasses per week. That is most likely due to lifestyle correlation factors, but it's still not something Anheuser-Busch InBev will be promoting.

There was no relationship found between amount or type of alcohol consumption and death from Covid-19.

Here is the basic correlation data for the sample group, quoting from the study with the numbers removed: "Subjects who were positive for Covid-19 had a lower education level, a fewer white ethnicity, a poor overall health rating, a higher prevalence of Townsend deprivation score, and more comorbidities than those who were negative for Covid-19. Furthermore, they were less likely to be alcohol drinkers, had a lower frequency of alcohol consumption and had a lower amount of alcohol consumption than those who were negative for Covid-19."

The study proposes some causative factors, but does not research them. The study authors wonder if the cause might be polyphenols, which are most present in red wine and have been associated with health benefits including lower blood pressure and reduced inflammation.

This paragraph in the concluding discussion is something the Wine Institute will want to celebrate:

"It is worth noting that red wine is recommended for all adults because it was associated with a lower risk of Covid-19 ... The consumption of beer and cider are not recommended, regardless of frequency and amount of alcohol consumption."

 

 

Red Wine Will Protect You From Covid Infection Despite the significance of this report (it's real) there will be push back and skepticism...for understandable reaons.   Tom Wark                   If you sit in a quiet place in your home, turn off all electronics, close your eyes and listen carefully, you can actually hear the bursting of blood vessels under the skin of the neo-prohibitionist/anti-alcohol crusaders. It’s all due entirely to this headline: “People who consume red wine between one to more than five glasses per week had a 10 to 17% lower risk in contracting Covid.” This is the finding of a study that looked at the drinking habits of 474,000 UK residents and their Covid infection status. But wait. There’s more. White wine, Champagne, and fortified wine drinkers also found protection from Covid infection. However, there was no protection for beer, cider, and spirits drinkers. What’s really impactful and unique about these findings is that they apparently find PROTECTIVE qualities to drinking certain amounts of different wines, instead of positive treatment qualities. That is to say: Drink wine and you have a lower chance of contracting Covid. “Researchers think the polyphenol content in alcoholic beverages, which have antioxidant properties, may plat a role.” Not since the pandemic blanketed the world in early 2020 have I read anything anywhere that suggested a certain type of food or drink would help prevent a person from being infected by Covid. We’ve read all sorts of things about how and what to eat and drink to recover, but nothing about foods or drinks that make one less likely to become infected. I think there is a very good chance this study will be examined and duplicated by others. There is one caveat. The researchers in China studied the drinking habits and covid status of nearly half a million Britons who had an average age of 69. Does the protective impact of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Pinot Noir accrue to folks who are in their 30s and 40s, and 50s also? WHY AM I SKEPTICAL? But I have to admit I’m skeptical of the results and headline here. It’s not because I’m a scientist and understand the methodology or limitations of the study and findings. After all, the stated results of this study are unambiguous. I’m skeptical because for 30 years since the French Paradox was reported on “60 Minutes” and changed the drinking dynamic in the U.S., I’ve watched claim after claim being made by the White Coats about alcohol. “It’s good for you.” “No, it’s bad for you.” “It’s sometimes good for you.” “Only this amount is good for you.” “All if it will give you cancer.” Etc, etc, etc. There surely is a name or should be a name for the phenomenon of hearing so much contradictory advice on one subject over time that one disregards all the advice. And I think this is exactly what will happen with the news of this study. It will get some pick up that comes with a wink and a nod. But the first news of a consumable product (that I know of) that actually prevents Covid infection likely won’t make real headlines. In any case, the news that drinking up to five glasses of red wine per week provides significant protection against CONTRACTING Covid is pretty significant. If true, it’s a good reason to drink wine. However, I await the soon-to-be-released statement from the Association of Anti-Alcohol Nannies (AAAN) that in attempting to protect one's self from Covid by drinking red wine, you’ll surely see the blood drain from your body.

 

[Greenhorn2]

Drink white liquor. That shit will kill anything!

[Hammer Smokin']

so all we need confirmation of is speed and we can use weed, whites, and wine as treatment for covid. 

 

better than any vax. 

[HawkI84]

No wonder COVID rates took off during dry January.

[SMELTZ]

https://exposetobacco.org/wp-content/uploads/STP043_Covid19_FrenchStudies_02.pdf

Study in France that shows Nicotine could prevent getting covid?

"...nicotine could reduce the risk and provide a new treatment option."

 

[Islandboy]

15 minutes ago, Hammer Smokin' said:

so all we need confirmation of is speed and we can use weed, whites, and wine as treatment for covid. 

 

better than any vax. 

...I’ll be willin.