It is important to keep this fraud in context.  While it really takes away fundamental evidence for reservatrol, I believe that there is a range of substantial evidence on the association of red wine with better health outcomes.  This would not be a reason to stop recommending a glass or two of dry red wine in the evening, but the use of reservatrol supplements is probably worthless.

I am sure we will hear more about this in the future as word gets around.

I agree Brian,

The addition of Resveratrol as an additive my not be worthwhile

While it may only be a stress relieving tonic for some, a glass of red wine in the evening does seem to anecdotally lower fasting bg levels.

Here is an interesting quote:

All I know is that I'm not giving up my 2-3 glasses a week.  I find it beneficial! 

Thanks for the words of wisdom, Bruce. A sense of humor always helps.

The alcohol content of a glass of wine at dinner may benefit someone with type 2 diabetes by keeping the liver busy while  the liver detoxifies the alcohol...and thus inhibit the release of glucose by the liver during that period of time. That feature of alcohol ingestion  and subsequent detoxification may be helpful to some people with diabetes.   The research regarding the postprandial (after meal) incretin effect  has highlighted the fact that if there is a defect in incretin action, the liver may be releasing glucose into the blood even right after someone has eaten and the carbohydrates are digesting.

Just wanted to add the piece below so as to provide what they call more of a "fair and balanced approach" to the subject of alcohol and health (oxymoron?)

NOTE:  I left out the resveratrol as a positive aspect, due to newest research, so the conclusion is now very much skewed....

Reference for below: www.meteck.org/wine.html (accessed 1-22-12)

Alcohol: negative aspects

• HTN:  High consumption results in a higher blood pressure and may cause hypertension. It has a positive correlation with mouth- throat- and gullet (med. oesophagus) cancer; under certain circumstances with liver cancer and liver cirrhosis. But what is "high" or "too much"? This definition depends on the country you live in as well as you physiological condition. E.g. in the northern European countries, 2-3 glasses a day is considered more than enough, whereas the Mediterraneans think 5 glasses is still acceptable. Differences on a physiological basis: your body weight, dayly energy intake and the presence of ADH (= alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme in the stomach that degrades the alcohol before it can enter the blood stream).

• Tannins: these compounds are plant polyphenols and may cause headaches. Tannins tend to bind starches while being digested. These starches are needed by the body to produce serotonin. In some people, who are extremely sensitive to their serotonin levels, it appears the lack of serotonin can lead to a migraine. It sort of "starves" the body for this type of raw material, much as not eating for many hours might lead this person to have the same migraine. Tannin sensitivity is also now thought to be cumulative - a person who begins life with no tannin sensitivities may yet develop one as he or she ages. People who are sensitive to tannins need to moderate their intake of tannins in all forms, and also be sure to eat a reasonable amount of food while ingesting tannins, so the binding affects of tannins do not cause undue stress.
  But see also below at the positive aspects.

• Sulfites: some people are sensitive to it.

Thanks, Mary Ann

This is getting to be a very interesting discussion!

Here is some more in depth information about consuming alcoholic beverages:

“When alcohol is consumed, it passes from the stomach and intestines into the blood,…. Alcohol is then metabolized by enzymes…. In the liver, an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) mediates the conversion of alcohol to acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is rapidly converted to acetate by other enzymes and is eventually metabolized to carbon dioxide and water. Alcohol also is metabolized in the liver by the enzyme cytochrome P450IIE1 (CYP2E1), which may be increased after chronic drinking . Most of the alcohol consumed is metabolized in the liver, but the small quantity that remains unmetabolized permits alcohol concentration to be measured in breath and urine.”

“The liver can metabolize only a certain amount of alcohol per hour, regardless of the amount that has been consumed. The rate of alcohol metabolism depends, in part, on the amount of metabolizing enzymes in the liver, which varies among individuals and appears to have genetic determinants.  In general, after the consumption of one standard drink, the amount of alcohol in the drinker's blood (blood alcohol concentration, or BAC) peaks within 30 to 45 minutes. (A standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits, all of which contain the same amount of alcohol.) ….Alcohol is metabolized more slowly than it is absorbed. Since the metabolism of alcohol is slow, consumption needs to be controlled to prevent accumulation in the body and intoxication.”

Food influence. The rate at which alcohol is absorbed depends on how quickly the stomach empties its contents into the intestine. "The higher the dietary fat content, the more time this emptying will require and the longer the process of absorption will take". ..thus the advice for our patients to eat when having a glass of alcoholic drink...also to prevent hypoglycemia. If the liver is busy detoxifying alcohol, it will not contribute glucose into the blood if a person is experiencing hypoglycemia....and also hypoglycemic symptoms may be blunted if alcohol is consumed on an empty stomach.

Gender influence:. "Women absorb and metabolize alcohol differently from men". They have "higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC) after consuming the same amount of alcohol as men and are more susceptible to alcoholic liver disease, heart muscle damage, and brain damage ". Some reasons that have been mentioned: women's smaller amount of body water and that" women have lower activity of the alcohol metabolizing enzyme ADH in the stomach, causing a larger proportion of the ingested alcohol to reach the blood. "

Caloric value of alcohol: Alcohol has a caloric value, 7.1 Calories per gram

Sex Hormones. Alcohol metabolism alters the balance of reproductive hormones..

       In men, "alcohol metabolism contributes to testicular injury and impairs testosterone synthesis and sperm production" "Prolonged testosterone deficiency may contribute to feminization in males, for example, breast enlargement " In addition, alcohol may interfere with normal sperm structure and movement"

       In women, "alcohol metabolism may contribute to increased production of a form of estrogen called estradiol (which contributes to increased bone density and reduced risk of coronary artery disease) and to decreased estradiol metabolism, resulting in elevated estradiol levels"

Reference: http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/alerts/l/blnaa35.htm

Just to clarify--alcohol does not just keep the liver busy, but it slows down gluconeogenesis--but not glycogenolysis--which prevents the liver from transforming stored proteins into glucose.  This is especially good for the overnight increase in glucose most diabetic patients experience, which is caused by both liver breakdown pathways.  A 3-4 oz glass of wine can indeed reduce fasting glucose in diabetics. 

Please be aware that Dr. Das is not the only researcher on Resveratrol.  His data may have been corrupted, but many other researchers have studied the positive benefits of resveratrol.

Thanks for your input, Mona

This blog is becoming a treasure house of information on alcoholic beverages and the effect of their alcohol content!

Whenever someone tells me they started drinking red wine for the health benefits, I ask if they also eat 9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day (DASH guidelines), make sure most of the grains they eat are whole grains, choose lower sodium foods, and routinely enjoy at least 30 minutes of activity per day.

They typically look at me in dismay. They thought that simply drinking red wine would solve their health care problems. Wouldn't that be great if it were so simple!

I've nothing against someone enjoying a glass of wine now and then, but I would never recommend wine or any type of alcohol for supposed health benefits when there are so many other well-documented ways we can improve our health.

That surely puts it all in the proper perspective, Lyn!

I doubt any health care professional recommends drinking alcohol over eating right, stopping smoking, exercising, good sleep, avoiding environmental toxins, thinking good, happy thoughts!  ;-)  But, since many patients like a glass of wine, it's good to know as diabetic patients it is alright for them to imbibe in a controlled manner, and it may indeed help lower their fasting glucose,  take away the stress of a day, and perhaps help with their overall cardio health. 

I agree with you in principle Mona, but what I hear over and over again from folks is "my doctor told me a glass of wine is good for me" yet they ignore the messages their doctor told them about food choices and regular activity. The key I think is what you said - they enjoy drinking wine and they don't enjoy healthy foods or exercise. They cherry pick the messages they want to hear, and then pat themselves on the back that they're following their doctor's suggestions.