Is Beer as Healthy as Wine?

Group 6 – Jo Ho, Karim Mohamed, Katrina Watson, Gina Vaz, Kelly Shum, Jodi Branton,

Leah McManus, and Alisha Seller

Special Thanks to: Rachel Syme and Gary Dobson

Why did we choose this article?

•Generational appeal

•Our age group consumes the most alcohol

•Topic interest•Health effects of

drinking•Funding biases

Our Approach to and Analysis of the Article

• We read through the article as a group• We attempted to separate the science

from the sensationalism• We examined each sentence to

identify the scientific basis behind the claims made in the article

• We then formulated questions relating to the science in the article and subdivided these amongst the group members

The Topics Considered• The following topics

were considered relevant to our analysis:- Antioxidants

- Polyphenols- Health benefits of wine- Scientific terminology

gout and hormesis

Synopsis of the Article

• Beer is as healthy as wine • Beer contains less polyphenols

than wine • Beer helps prevent disease• Antioxidant effects of beer are

greatest in moderation• The only ill effect mentioned is

gout

Antioxidants“One drink of

beer or wine provides

equivalent increases in

plasma antioxidant

activity”

What are antioxidants?

• Antioxidants are molecules that detoxify Reactive Oxygen Intermediates (ROIs) in the body by surrendering electrons http://www.asnutrition.com/zat_antioxidants.asp

How antioxidants work

• Reactive Oxygen Intermediates = Free Radicals

• Free Radicals + Body Tissue (oxidation) Cellular Damage Cell Death or Mutation Disease

• Free Radical + Antioxidant Neutral Unreactive Complex

How antioxidants work

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is oxidized by free radicals immune system cells recognize and engulf oxidized LDL formation of atherosclerotic plaques in arterial wall

• Antioxidants prevent oxidation of LDL, not blood plasma - Therefore antioxidants help

prevent atherosclerosis

• Free radicals cause DNA damage mutations or irreversible damage cancer

• Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and therefore reduce risk of cancer

How antioxidants work

Summary

• Free radicals are harmful because they oxidize body tissue

• This causes cell mutation, cell

death, and disease

Polyphenols“Polyphenols, the compounds in plants that

help prevent UV damage from the sun and make the plant cell wall strong, are believed

to have antioxidant benefits when consumed by humans.”

Chemical structure

• A polyphenol is comprised of one or more aromatic rings bonded with hydroxyl groups.

• Some chemical structures:

example of a catechin

Polyphenols and Wine

• Wine contains a variety of polyphenols.

• The type and concentration of polyphenols are dependent upon: - type of grapes - aging process - manufacturing process

Polyphenols and Beer

• The polyphenols in beer come from hops

• The type and concentration of polyphenols differ from those found in wine

• Therefore, it is not reasonable to compare beer to wine

“Study finds beer as healthy as wine.”

Beer vs. Wine

Polyphenols

• The structure of polyphenols differ between beer and wine - Therefore, they would not exhibit the

same health benefits

Summary

• Components of wine are never constant and change according to where it was made and the age of the wine

• Specific components (antioxidants) are beneficial, however, the concentration of each component is unknown

Gout“Specifically,

they found that two or more beers a day more than

doubles the risk of gout…”

What is gout?

• A form of inflammatory arthritis• Affects the joints of the body • Caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood•Uric acid is the break down product of purines

Alcohol and Gout

•Beer contains purines•Wine does not - Consumption of beer raises the risk of gout, but wine does not

Hormesis

“…“hormesis” – small doses of a toxic substance can have beneficial effects, while a large amount is harmful.”

What is hormesis?

•The notion that small doses of a toxin can be healthful

•This term is most often applied to radiation

Alcohol and Hormesis

• Alcohol is not toxic in small quantities

- Therefore alcohol is not considered a toxic

substance

The Bottom Line

• Scientific Research - From inquisition to

innovation• With the media as a

liaison• What is lost in

translation?

Antioxidants• Article

- Beer increases plasma antioxidant levels- Antioxidants decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease

• Science- Beer does increase antioxidant levels- Antioxidants work only in moderation

Polyphenols• Article

- Found in plants and have antioxidant benefits- Are a compound that adds strength to plant cell walls

• Science- Protect plants from pathogens- No information was found regarding cell wall strength and polyphenols

Health Benefits• Article

- Wine has 20x more polyphenols than beer- Wine is as healthy as beer

• Science- Polyphenol concentration is dependant on manufacturing process- Beer and wine are not equitable comparisons

Scientific Terminology

• Article- 2 beers doubles the risk of gout- Alcohol has an hormetic effect on health

• Science-1 beer increases the risk of gout by 2.5X- Hormesis is inappropriately used in conjunction with alcohol consumption

Conclusion

Unless individuals begin reading more critically and journalists disseminate information more

accurately, science in the popular media will continue to

be….

….Lost in Translation

Group 6

Kudos to: Rachel Syme and Gary Dobson

Or better known as:

Da Bomb

Jr. Chari

The Artist

Prez

Superman

The Villain

Giggles

The Alcoholic