RESOLUTION OENO 72/2000

NECESSITY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH OF RESEARCH ON METABOLISM OF WINE COMPOUNDS

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

BASED ON THE PROPOSAL of the "Wine and Health" expert group and the "Nutrition and Health" sub-commission,

AFTER CONSIDERING scientific data,:

CONSIDERING clinical interventions and other experimental studies, it appears that:

1. Phenolic compounds found in wine may have a positive influence on serum lipids due to their anti-oxidative properties and other mechanisms,
2. Thrombotic risk factors seem to be decreased as a consequence of regular and moderate consumption of alcoholic  beverages including wine. Endothelial function, vascular dilatation, is specially increased by wine.

CONSIDERING epidemiological studies, it appears that wine presents beneficial effects, reducing cardiovascular mortality.

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the preliminary and limited studies that show that:

1. Degenerative brain diseases occur less frequently in people who consume wine in a regular and moderate manner.
2. Regular and moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages during meals, including wine, may not necessarily contribute to obesity in healthy people.

CONSIDERING that it is necessary to proceed with research, notably in these areas in order to show and present a balanced perspective of both positive and negative effects of wine consumption;

RECOMMENDS that member states agree that further research is needed in the field of wine and health and to consider the need for further research in this area when planning and prioritising national and collaborative international research programmes on diet and health, which can serve as the basis for public health and education policy.