Red wine would have positive effects on the intestinal microbiota

Red wine would have a positive impact on the intestinal microbiota. This is shown by a study carried out by comparing its effects with those of other alcohols, a study published in the journal Gastroenterology and whose conclusions are to be considered with moderation…

Scientists at King’s College London obtained these results by studying 916 female twins living in the UK and their reported consumption of beer, cider, wine and hard liquor. For those who claimed to consume red wine, the diversity of the intestinal microbiota was better than in those consuming other types of alcohol in which no positive association was observed.

Confirmation of results obtained in the laboratory

According to the author of this work, Caroline Le Roy, quoted by AFP, the latter provide confirmation of the results already obtained in the laboratory and on animals.

One of the particularities of this study is to be based on twin women: this twinness rules out the impact on the results of genetic differences, since these women are genetically identical, and makes it possible to highlight differences solely related to the environment. , in this specific case the consumption habits of alcoholic beverages.

Wine considered unhealthy

On the other hand, its results are to be put into perspective insofar as such studies are usually done by comparing two groups of people chosen at random. But given the purpose of this work, this method, which would have required having one of the groups drink wine, would have been questionable on an ethical level: wine is indeed, like all alcoholic beverages, considered bad for health. Alcohol consumption is directly linked to approximately 200 diseases including cirrhosis, cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders.

It would therefore be unreasonable to rely on the results of this study to justify the consumption of red wine for the sole purpose of healing the balance of one’s intestinal microbiota…