First two publications of special issue “Lifestyle, Diet, Wine and Health” released

Following the first 2 congresses on “Lifestyle, Diet, Wine and Health”, in Toledo and Rome, a peer-reviewed special issue in Nutrients is being compiled.

The first two manuscripts have been published (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients/special_issues/K7BG1SGZ40) and more are to follow:

1. Alcohol, Wine, and Sleep in Adults: Insights from a Narrative Review by Chaput JP,

• • This review concludes that the consumption of alcoholic beverages may help individuals to fall asleep faster but it disrupts the quality of sleep and reduces the REM sleep (the dream sleep that is important for brain recovery) later in the night.
  • Chronic consumption of alcoholic beverages is associated with worse sleep quality overall, more insomnia‑like problems, and a higher risk of breathing problems during sleep (such as snoring and sleep apnoea).
  • Drinking late in the evening may amplify sleep fragmentation and breathing problems at night, whereas earlier consumption may attenuate, but not eliminate, some adverse effects.
  • The non-alcoholic components of wine (e.g., melatonin and polyphenols) are present at levels insufficient to confer meaningful sleep benefits.
  • The author concludes that alcoholic beverages, including wine, should not be considered a sleep aid; public health guidance should emphasize how much individuals drink, when they drink, and how often, because all of this matters for a healthy sleep.

Chaput, Jean-Philippe. 2026. “Alcohol, Wine, and Sleep in Adults: Insights from a Narrative Review” Nutrients 18, no. 4: 585. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040585

2. The unfinished debate on wine and other alcoholic beverages: conflicting evidence, public health messages and the missing trial by Alvarez Mon MA, Martinez-Gonzalez MA et al,

The authors explain that the relationship between the consumption of alcoholic beverages and health has been a long-standing debate, becoming more controversial in recent years. The Global Burden of Disease study in 2018 concluded that zero alcohol consumption minimizes health risks, but this view was revised in 2022 to suggest that moderate drinking could be beneficial for some populations, especially older adults with high cardiovascular risk. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2025 report warned against any alcohol intake due to cancer risks, while another report highlighted the need for tailored recommendations based on individual risk profiles. The ongoing scientific debate calls for more rigorous research, particularly large randomized controlled trials to explore the effects of alcohol on health comprehensively.

The researchers further focus on the importance of drinking patterns, suggesting that how and when wine and other alcoholic beverages are consumed may significantly influence health outcomes. Observational studiesLike intervention studies observational studies attempt to understand cause-and-effect relationships... indicate that moderate wine consumption, particularly within a Mediterranean diet, may have health benefits, but this can be complicated by confounding factors and the need for more rigorous research.

Moderate wine consumption within the Mediterranean diet shows a strong inverse relationship between adherence to this eating pattern and all-cause mortality. The inclusion of moderate alcohol intake, particularly wine, is associated with reduced mortality and cardiovascular events in various studies. Despite potential confounding, the biological plausibility of wine’s health benefits, supported by biomarkers, gives credibility to the positive findings regarding moderate wine consumption as part of a Mediterranean diet.

Overall, the authors advocate for a balanced approach to the consumption of alcoholic beverages that considers both potential benefits and risks, emphasizing the necessity of personalized guidelines that are informed by comprehensive research.

Alvarez-Mon MA, Martínez-Urbistondo D, Barbería-Latasa M, Vázquez-Ruiz Z, Ruiz-Canela M, Bes-Rastrollo M, Martínez-González MÁ. The Unfinished Debate on Wine and Other Alcoholic Beverages: Conflicting Evidence, Public Health Messages and the Missing Trial. Nutrients. 2026 Feb 5;18(3):529. doi: 0.3390/nu18030529. PMID: 41683351; PMCID: PMC12899845