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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