Scientific highlights from the OIV congress 2024 in Dijon (Commission IV: Health and Safety)
Moderate wine consumption in the Mediterranean Diet
Scientific debate
The scientific debate about moderate wine consumption as part of a Mediterranean Diet (Med Diet) and lifestyle was discussed by Ursula Fradera, scientific coordinator of the Wine Information Council. On the one hand, the Med Diet is considered one of the best diets in the world and the WHO has identified this eating pattern as an effective strategy to prevent non-communicable diseases, since it is associated with lower disease occurrence and all-cause mortality. At the same time, moderate wine consumption with the meals represents one of the beneficial components of the Med Diet and a positive item in the Med Diet score. On the other hand, ever since the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in 2018, it has been suggested that any consumption of alcoholic beverages is harmful to health because of an increased cancer risk, the existence of the J curve has been denied and the health benefits of moderate wine consumption were questioned. Fradera showed that the same GBD scientists corrected their own data in 20222 and their new results demonstrated that the risks vary greatly depending on the disease, age and region. Based on this updated analysis, a moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages for individuals over the age of 40 years can provide health benefits, such as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The influence of moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages on health that was described as a J-shaped curve more than 20 years ago remains still valid nowadays. She also explained that the GBD analyses do not provide any new scientific evidence but rely on existing studies, they only provide a statistical but not a causal association. Many observational epidemiological studies support the beneficial role of wine in the context of a Mediterranean eating and drinking pattern. A controversy, however, still remains on this topic, mainly due to the lack of high scientific evidence on the protective effects of moderate wine consumption on health such as those obtained in randomized controlled trials. Considering this, she emphasized, we have to rely on existing evidence. She finished with the conclusions of the international scientists presenting their research at the 1st Lifestyle, Diet, Wine and Health congress 2023 who:
- Reconfirmed validity of J-curve regarding the consumption of alcoholic beverages, total mortality and cardiovascular diseases.
- Highlighted importance of Med Diet as best preventive diet with respect to cardiovascular disease and total mortality as well as for a greater life expectancy with fewer chronic diseases.
- Introduced concept of Mediterranean lifestyle: exercise, stress, sleep, social aspect of meals, environmental sustainability and culinary pleasure.
- Emphasized that the impact of moderate wine consumption on health can only be assessed in context of eating & drinking patterns and lifestyle factors. Focusing only average alcohol consumption will distort the risk.
Qualitative insights
Alcoholic beverage preference and health behaviours in Greek patients with cardiometabolic diseases
Recognizing the influence of alcoholic beverage preference on health behaviours is essential for developing tailored interventions that effectively promote healthier lifestyles. Prof. Rena Kosti showed the results of a study examining how alcoholic beverage preference relates to dietary habits and medication adherence among Greek patients with cardiometabolic diseases (coronary heart disease, stroke, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, elevated blood lipid levels, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). Via questionnaire the socio-economic and demographic characteristics, alcohol consumption patterns, adherence to the Med Diet and adherence to prescribed medication were assessed. She explained that the outcomes of this investigation unveiled that 41% of patients consumed alcoholic beverages and half of those opted to consume alcohol with the meals. 49% of alcohol consumers favoured wine, 30% beer and 21% spirits. The majority of patients living in rural areas favoured wine and those in urban areas favoured beer. Wine consumers were more likely to adhere to the Med diet than consumers of beer and other alcoholic beverages. In contrast, beer consumers showed a higher medication adherence; both beer and spirits consumers had higher odds of having positive belief about medication. She concluded that such qualitative research could deepen the understanding of the cultural and psychosocial factors influencing alcohol-related health behaviour.
J curve
Pharmacological basis of J-shaped curve in biological effects of wine
Prof. Mladen Boban (WIC expert and pharmacologist) illustrated that in real life it is commonly seen for different compounds to exhibit opposite effects depending on the dosage. Such phenomenon of small quantities having effects opposite from that of large quantities is called hormesis. He explained that in the context of human nutrition, the hormetic biphasic effects of alcohol consumption on human health have been well studied. In the case of wine, there are two principal compounds considered responsible for the majority of wines‘ biological effects: alcohol and phenolic compounds. He showed well that both alcohol and wine phenolics obey the hormetic bi-phasic dose-response relationship, which corresponds well with the epidemiological finding of the J-shaped association of wine consumption and different diseases and total mortality.
Education about responsible wine consumption
Online education
Nadia Frittella presented the new online training tool for wine professionals available in 7 languages which is intended to educate the entire wine value chain about moderate consumption and encourage responsible wine drinking patterns. She explained that it is crucial to equip wine professionals with the necessary knowledge about responsible service and communicate the message to their customers. The topics of the nine modules range from wine and health issues, wine-related legal framework, responsible wine tasting to oenotourism. The great advantage of this digital training is the easy and worldwide implementation, even in countries where the Wine in Moderation program is not present yet. It would be perfectly suited to include in the education profile of the OIV wine professionals.
Presential seminars
Dr. Claudia Hammer from the Deutsche Weinakademie (national WiM coordinator in Germany) presented the results of their training program of the last 15 years for future wine makers and cellar men in professional schools. Such seminars cover topics like responsible advertising of wine/alcoholic beverages, health effects of alcoholic beverages, and of wine in particular, existing wine-related legal work and risk of excessive consumption. The education seminars are aimed to increase the skills of the students not only to reflect on their own behaviour but also to provide profound information to their sophisticated customers. The knowledge gain (before and after the seminar and 6 months later) was evaluated via questionnaire. The quality of the seminars as well as the professional and personal value for the participants was also assessed. She explained that the results showed a significant increase in knowledge and that this knowledge was sustained in the long-term. In addition, most participants considered the acquired knowledge useful for their professional and personal life. After 15 years, the WiM seminars are established as part of the curriculum in German professional schools and have achieved their aim to provide sustainable information about moderate wine consumption.