by Kevin Coupe
Now this is my kind of study.
Wine Spectator reports that there is a new study from "a team of Spain's top preventive medical practitioners and clinicians" suggesting that "people who drink wine in moderation may actually suffer from lower rates of depression."
The scientists were prompted to look into the link between wine and depression because, quite simply, statistics show that there are more people drinking wine and more cases of depression. Hence, concerns that they might be linked.
It took seven years to do the study, and what scientists found was that "moderate alcohol intake, within the range of 5 to 15 grams per day, or roughly one serving, is associated with a 28 percent lower chance of depression. And wine consumption in the range of two to seven glasses per week was associated with a 32 percent lower rate of depression."
According to the piece, "The Spanish scientists have a few theories for their results. It's possible that people who drink wine enjoy better mental health for unrelated lifestyle reasons. Also, the red wine compound resveratrol is theorized to hold neuroprotective properties."
To be fair, the story also points out that not everybody agrees with the conclusions. Dr. Harvey Finkel, a hematologist at the Boston University Medical Center, is quoted as saying that "drinking is often a symptom of depression, likely an attempt at self-medication, and drawing a deeper significance from the conflation of the two seems to me untenable."
But seriously, folks ... there are some people for whom wine - and alcohol in general - contributes to depression. And there are a lot of people for whom wine - especially, in my case, a great Oregon Pinot Noir, or a Spanish Albarino - is a reason to celebrate.
I'm just glad to be in the latter group.
Now this is my kind of study.
Wine Spectator reports that there is a new study from "a team of Spain's top preventive medical practitioners and clinicians" suggesting that "people who drink wine in moderation may actually suffer from lower rates of depression."
The scientists were prompted to look into the link between wine and depression because, quite simply, statistics show that there are more people drinking wine and more cases of depression. Hence, concerns that they might be linked.
It took seven years to do the study, and what scientists found was that "moderate alcohol intake, within the range of 5 to 15 grams per day, or roughly one serving, is associated with a 28 percent lower chance of depression. And wine consumption in the range of two to seven glasses per week was associated with a 32 percent lower rate of depression."
According to the piece, "The Spanish scientists have a few theories for their results. It's possible that people who drink wine enjoy better mental health for unrelated lifestyle reasons. Also, the red wine compound resveratrol is theorized to hold neuroprotective properties."
To be fair, the story also points out that not everybody agrees with the conclusions. Dr. Harvey Finkel, a hematologist at the Boston University Medical Center, is quoted as saying that "drinking is often a symptom of depression, likely an attempt at self-medication, and drawing a deeper significance from the conflation of the two seems to me untenable."
But seriously, folks ... there are some people for whom wine - and alcohol in general - contributes to depression. And there are a lot of people for whom wine - especially, in my case, a great Oregon Pinot Noir, or a Spanish Albarino - is a reason to celebrate.
I'm just glad to be in the latter group.
- KC's View:
