Wine's Potential Covid Protection

© APA | That glass of Merlot could be standing between you and Covid.

First, the good news: Red wine, white wine and Champagne may reduce your risk of getting Covid-19 – especially red wine!

But here's a little bad news: Drinking beer and cider might actually increase your risk of getting Covid-19, as might drinking too much of anything.

Related stories:
Wine's Health Benefits Questioned
Wine "Supertasters" and Covid Resistance
Where to Now for Alcohol Health Research?

A study released this month in the academic publication Frontiers of Nutrition used a population of 473,957 people in the UK who are part of a long-term medical study called the UK Biobank. It consists of volunteers who allow the UK National Health Service to follow every aspect of their health as they age.

Strangely for a study with UK subjects, the analysis was performed by six scientists in China, led by Xi-jian Dai and four colleagues at the Shenzhen Mental Health Centre. They basically correlated the data for Covid-19 positivity with self-reported data about how much participants drink, and what they drink.

Before I dive into the study, keep in mind this is correlation data, not causation. Wine-Searcher had an exclusive story last year about research in China that tannic acid inhibits the coronavirus in a lab; that study put tannic acid and coronavirus into a teeny tiny ring and let them fight it out. This is different. We don't know if some factor (like wealth) leads people to both drink red wine and also wear masks and avoid indoor raves.

With that proviso, let's get to what the study showed.

First, people who don't drink at all had a higher risk of getting Covid-19 than people who drink.

The risk of getting Covid-19 was 10-17 percent lower for people who drink red wine. Unlike with other alcoholic beverages, the effect did not significantly diminish for people until they got above 14 glasses per week. This is good news!

The study lumps white wine and Champagne drinkers together, and it uses the word "Champagne", not sparkling wine, so we will too.

White wine drinkers had a 7-8 percent lower risk of Covid-19 if they drink fewer than five glasses per week, but the protective effect goes away at higher consumption than that.

Fortified wine drinkers had a 12 percent lower risk of Covid-19, but only if they restrain themselves to no more than two glasses per week.

Spirits was Covid-19 neutral up to four glasses per week; more than that is associated with greater Covid-19 risk.

The downside

Unfortunately, the alcohol is cumulative, and drinkers who had more alcohol than the UK guidelines of 14 "units" of alcohol per week (i.e. glasses of wine) had a higher risk of Covid-19 than people who stayed within the guidelines. So you can have two glasses of red wine per day, but no more than that AND no other alcohol if you want the protective effect (assuming there is one.)

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about the study is that beer and cider drinkers have a higher risk of Covid-19 starting at just one glass per week; the risk is 28 percent higher at five or more glasses per week. That is most likely due to lifestyle correlation factors, but it's still not something Anheuser-Busch InBev will be promoting.

There was no relationship found between amount or type of alcohol consumption and death from Covid-19.

Here is the basic correlation data for the sample group, quoting from the study with the numbers removed: "Subjects who were positive for Covid-19 had a lower education level, a fewer white ethnicity, a poor overall health rating, a higher prevalence of Townsend deprivation score, and more comorbidities than those who were negative for Covid-19. Furthermore, they were less likely to be alcohol drinkers, had a lower frequency of alcohol consumption and had a lower amount of alcohol consumption than those who were negative for Covid-19."

The study proposes some causative factors, but does not research them. The study authors wonder if the cause might be polyphenols, which are most present in red wine and have been associated with health benefits including lower blood pressure and reduced inflammation.

This paragraph in the concluding discussion is something the Wine Institute will want to celebrate:

"It is worth noting that red wine is recommended for all adults because it was associated with a lower risk of Covid-19 ... The consumption of beer and cider are not recommended, regardless of frequency and amount of alcohol consumption."

To join the conversation, comment on our social media channels.
Latest News and Features

Merlot: Wine's Great Survivor

Never has a wine been damaged so much by one line, but Merlot's recovery from Sideways continues apace.

Vicki Denig · Friday, 29-Mar-2024
Magazine Merlot: Wine's Great Survivor

Wine's Direct-to-Consumer Lifeline

In an ugly landscape for wine, there's one ray of light in the distance.

Kathleen Willcox · Thursday, 28-Mar-2024
Magazine Wine's Direct-to-Consumer Lifeline

The World's Most Wanted Champagne

When it comes to Champagne, too much is never enough.

Nat Sellers · Wednesday, 27-Mar-2024
Magazine The World's Most Wanted Champagne

Midwest Whiskey Shines its Light

Our US editor goes off the beaten track with a tour of rare whiskies made from corn to pumpernickel and everything in between.

W. Blake Gray · Tuesday, 26-Mar-2024
Magazine Midwest Whiskey Shines its Light

Otronia's Patagonian Vision

Nestled deep in the wild Patagonian desert lies a vineyard paving the way for the world's most southernmost wines.

Margaret Rand · Monday, 25-Mar-2024
Magazine Otronia's Patagonian Vision

Burgundy Prices Due to Fall

This week, we look at the latest news in Spain's Rioja, and we also pay tribute to the American owner of Saint-Emilion's Château Fonplégade.

Oliver Styles · Sunday, 24-Mar-2024
Magazine Burgundy Prices Due to Fall

The World's Most Wanted Prosecco

Unlike other lists, when it comes to the world's most wanted Prosecco, no one producer has a monopoly.

Nat Sellers · Saturday, 23-Mar-2024
Magazine The World's Most Wanted Prosecco

The Big US Wine Market Roundup

Our US editor gets the latest from the Wine Market Council conference in Napa.

W. Blake Gray · Friday, 22-Mar-2024
Magazine The Big US Wine Market Roundup

China Bucks the Gen-Z Wine Trend

Younger consumers in the west are increasingly indifferent to wine's charms, but China is singing a different song.

Jim Boyce · Thursday, 21-Mar-2024
Magazine China Bucks the Gen-Z Wine Trend

The World's Most Wanted Malbecs

The grape might have its roots in France, but its crowning glory lies in Argentina.

Nat Sellers · Wednesday, 20-Mar-2024
Magazine The World's Most Wanted Malbecs