Risk of COVID-19 Infection Reduced by 17%... White Wine or Champagne by 8% ↓
[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Jinsoo Lee] Is alcohol really effective in preventing COVID-19?
A study has shown that red wine has some effectiveness in preventing COVID-19.
Researchers at Kangning Hospital in Shenzhen, China, announced in the online edition of the scientific journal Frontiers in Nutrition on the 3rd (local time) that drinking more than five glasses of red wine per week reduces the risk of contracting COVID-19 by 17% compared to those who do not drink at all.
The researchers reached this conclusion by analyzing the drinking habits and COVID-19 history of subjects from the UK Biobank data. The UK Biobank is a project designed to collect genetic data from residents aged 40 to 69 across the United Kingdom.
The researchers speculated that the effect of red wine might be due to polyphenols contained in red wine.
Grapes are rich in polyphenols, which are antioxidants. Polyphenols strengthen the function of the heart’s inner lining and raise the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, known as "good cholesterol." They are also known to be effective in blocking respiratory viruses such as the flu.
The researchers also specified that white wine and champagne somewhat help prevent COVID-19. Drinking 1 to 4 glasses of white wine or champagne per week reduces the risk of contracting COVID-19 by 8%.
However, people who enjoy beer or cider have a 28% higher chance of contracting COVID-19 regardless of the amount they drink.
Anything in excess is harmful. The researchers added that excessive drinking increases the likelihood of COVID-19 infection.
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