Spanish study needs 10,000 volunteers to drink wine every day
The 4-year clinical trial will look at the long-term effects of alcohol on our health
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a glass of wine with dinner and has always hoped it was secretly good for you, well, science might finally be on your side.
The University of Navarra is launching what might be the dream study for wine lovers: a four-year clinical trial that looks at the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on health. That’s right, they want to know if that daily glass of wine (or beer, or spirits) really is heart-healthy, or if it’s just a comforting myth we’ve all clung to for years.
They’ve received €2.4 million in funding from the European Research Council and now they just need 10,000 volunteers to join in. So far, 4,000 people have signed up, but they’re still looking for 6,000 more before June 2025.
Who gets to drink for science?
To join the party, ahem, we mean, study, you’ll need to meet a few criteria:
- Be a man between 50 and 70, or a woman between 55 and 75
- Live in Spain
- Already drink at least three alcoholic beverages a week (wine, beer or spirits)
- Be in good enough health to safely consume alcohol
People who are abstinent or have medical conditions that rule out alcohol can’t participate, as this study is about regular, moderate drinkers keeping to their usual habits. No need to up your intake, just carry on sipping like you normally do.
What will you have to do?
Aside from enjoying your usual drinks, the study includes:
- A 40-minute survey at the beginning and end
- Online check-ins every three months
- Regular updates on your weight, emotional health and general well-being
- Medical tests to check for heart health, metabolic markers and other health indicators
It’s all about getting real scientific data, without any influence from wine, beer or spirit companies. That means no sneaky industry sponsorship, just pure, unbiased research.
What are they trying to figure out?
Researchers want to clear up some long-standing questions:
- Does a glass of wine a day really protect your heart?
- Could even moderate drinking raise the risk of cancer?
- Do moderate drinkers live longer?
- What’s the effect on mental health?
Dr. Patricia Romero-Marco, one of the lead researchers, says the goal is to cut through the confusion and get solid answers backed by science. And who knows? This study could reshape medical advice around alcohol entirely.
Want to join?
If you’re over 50, living in Spain and already enjoy a few drinks a week, this might be the most enjoyable way you’ve ever contributed to science. Spots are still open, so raise a glass (responsibly) and consider signing up.
Because let’s face it: if you’re going to have that glass of wine anyway, you might as well do it in the name of research.
Image: Pexels
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