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Travel + Leisure
2 days ago
- Health
- Travel + Leisure
You Can Get 4 Years of Free Wine to Help Scientists Study the Effects of Moderate Drinking
Researchers in Spain are conducting the world's largest clinical trial on the health effects of moderate alcohol consumption, tracking 10,000 adults aged 50–75 over four years. The study, funded by the European Research Council, aims to provide clear evidence on whether moderate drinking is beneficial, neutral, or harmful—but volunteers must live in Spain to join. Do you enjoy sipping a glass of wine each evening? If so, scientists in Spain are looking for your help—and will give you free wine in exchange. In May, The Olive Press shared the news that researchers at the University of Navarra's Alumni Trialist Initiative (UNATI) are currently seeking volunteers to participate in the world's largest clinical trial on alcohol, aiming to understand the effects of moderate drinking on human health. As the volunteer intake form explained, participants will be tracked for the next four years to "determine whether moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial, neutral, or harmful to health." The research, funded by a €2.4 million (about $2.79 million) grant via the European Research Council, will track 10,000 people aged 50 to 75 split into two groups: one group who will consume alcohol daily (moderate amounts equal to fewer than seven drinks a week for women and 14 drinks a week for men) and the other who will completely abstain from any alcohol throughout the research period. Those who sign up must be prepared to join either group, as they will be randomly assigned to either arm. Both groups will undergo in-depth health surveys at the start and end of the trial, be asked to join quarterly meetings, and be willing to work with health coaches. "Policymakers and clinicians are currently perplexed on how to reduce alcohol harms in drinkers, because of contradictory guidelines: abstention is proposed as the healthiest option by many health advocates, stating that 'there is no safe level of alcohol intake,' but most nonrandomized studies found lower all-cause mortality and other beneficial outcomes in moderate drinkers than in abstainers among subjects over 50," the research plan's abstract explains. "However, potential biases may compromise these latter studies, particularly when effects are null or moderate." Thus, it's pulling together its "large pragmatic randomized controlled trial" to really get to what's what. "It will provide first-level evidence to confront the harms of one of the most widely used substances by humankind," it added. Both groups will receive "gift foods and beverages." The abstainers will receive "0%-alcohol beer, and extra-virgin olive oil to foster adherence to the Mediterranean diet," while the moderation group will receive "red wine (1.5 l/mo) and the same amount of extra-virgin olive oil to foster adherence to the Mediterranean diet as in the other group." To avoid any conflict of interest, the free wine will come from a supermarket chain, not from any single winery or alcohol company. To date, the Olive Press reported that 6,500 participants have signed up, meaning the team is still seeking 3,500 volunteers in the 50-75 age range. There is, however, one major catch: you must live in Spain to participate. But now's as good a time as any to move there, right?
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Sip smart: a study on the health perks of moderate alcohol consumption
A study in Spain is calling on drinkers to participate in research to find out the health implications of daily alcohol consumption. Image: Unsplash Oenophiles and alcohol aficionados in Spain are being summoned to participate in an ambitious scientific endeavour that promises to illuminate the intricate relationship between moderate drinking and health outcomes. Touted as the world's largest clinical study on the subject, the University of Navarra Alumni Trialist Initiative (UNATI) aims to recruit a total of 10 000 individuals aged between 50 and 75 over the next four years. The goal? To investigate the effects of daily wine, beer, or spirits consumption on critical health issues such as heart disease, cancer, mental health disorders, and overall mortality rates. Under the auspices of a generous €2.4 million grant from the European Research Council, the initiative is spearheaded by Professor Miguel Angel Martinez-Gonzalez, a pre-eminent expert in the Mediterranean diet and Chair of Preventive Medicine at the University of Navarra. Currently, the initiative has successfully enrolled 6,500 participants, leaving it in pursuit of 3,500 more volunteers by June 2025. 'We currently have 6,500 participants registered,' Professor Martinez-Gonzalez told local media. 'Day by day, we are gaining more volunteers. Please help, because UNATI represents health for all.' To qualify for participation, volunteers must reside in Spain and fall within the specified age brackets of 50-70 or 55-75 years. Moreover, they must consume at least three alcoholic drinks per week, while non-drinkers and those with medical vulnerabilities related to alcohol consumption are excluded. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The study operates under two guiding messages: 'We want to take better care of you' and 'UNATI: your health, our science.' As part of the research, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one emphasising complete abstinence from alcohol, and the other promoting a Mediterranean-style drinking pattern, characterised by moderate intake of fermented beverages such as wine or beer, primarily consumed with meals. It also includes participants engaging in detailed health surveys, quarterly online meetings, and annual medical check-ups. The organisers emphasised that their intent is not to promote alcohol consumption, but to dissect whether moderate drinking can indeed have positive health implications. For those who already consume alcohol in moderation, this presents an exceptional opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research poised to influence lifestyle choices and health practices in the years to come.
Extra.ie
21-05-2025
- Health
- Extra.ie
Wine not? Spanish researchers looking for volunteers to drink wine every day
There could be a dream job for many in the pipeline in sunny Spain, with one company remaining on the lookout for people to drink wine daily. The University of Navarra Alumni Trialist Initiative (UNATI) in the Basque region of Spain is running a large-scale trial investigating the effects of moderate alcohol consumption. Participants will be part of new research aimed at determining whether drinking a glass of wine a day is actually good for your health, as the adage goes. A new research project is aiming to confirm or disprove whether one glass of wine a day is good for the health. Pic: Getty Images The UNATI trial is the world's largest clinical trial investigating the effects of alcohol in moderation. As part of the project, researchers will track 10,000 people aged 50 to 75 to measure the impact of daily wine, beer, or spirits on rates of heart disease, cancer, mental health disorders, and overall mortality. To date, 6,500 people have joined the study, leaving room for a further 3,500 to get involved. To be eligible, participants must reside in Spain, be men aged 50-70 or women aged 55-75 and habitually consume three alcoholic drinks a week already. A Spanish university is looking for participants for research on moderate alcohol consumption. Pic: Getty Images Within the framework of the project, a person is assigned to one of two groups: one will receive guidance promoting complete abstinence from alcohol, while the other will be encouraged to follow a Mediterranean-style drinking pattern, mainly fermented drinks such as wine or beer. The study is being led by Professor Miguel Angel Martinez-Gonzalez, Chair of Preventive Medicine at the university. He said: 'We currently have 6,500 participants enrolled. We are making good progress in recruiting new volunteers day by day. Please help us, because UNATI means health for all.'
