US Red Wine Pill Comes To Europe

The health benefits of red wine are reported in the media with an almost tedious regularity. The most widely reported of the wonder chemicals in wine are called ‘resveratols’, which have an antitoxidant effect that prevents cell damage. Resveratols are also widely considered helpful for longer life and possibly in staving off cancers and other high profile, cureless diseases. Resveratols are most commonly associated with grapes skins, where they are found in high concentrations. But in actuality, they’re fairly widespread. You don’t just have to have a bottle of Pinot Noir wine to be exposed to Resveratol: you can also find it in peanuts!

Resveratol is actually found in all grape skins, regardless of what wine they end up as. So why is it always Red Wine that gets the most press? Those who know the difference between white and red wine making processes will already know the answer: red wine’s maceration period is key here. Maceration is the period in red wine making where skins and stalks are left to ferment with the grape juice, something that’s rare in the production of Riesling wine and other popular whites. Since white wines do not have this maceration period, the resveratols in the grape skins have less time to leach into the grape juice.

But the application of Red Wine’s magic properties is mirred somewhat by its ‘side effects’, which aren’t universally appreciated. The proven but unpronounced effects of resveratol are almost certainly offset by the damage caused by alcohol. So, is it still possible for everyone to enjoy the health benefits of red wine when they shouldn’t, can’t or simply don’t enjoy alcohol? A new pill on the market is claiming to give you all the health benefits of a Montepulciano Wine whilst sparing you the expense and relative danger of the liquid. The manufacturers, Biotivia have already successful launched the pill in the United States, and now they’re brining it to Europe. Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease and Alzheimers are among the diseases that the company claim the pill can ward off. When taken as a supplement to the consumption of fatty foods, it has also proven beneficial. However, it is worth questioning whether the concentrations of Resveratol in the clinical trials are strictly comparable to the commercial product (and weather the physiology of a mice scales up sufficiently to a human).