"Drink Wine and be Healthy" - Hippocrates, 400 BC

(AWMB/MT, 2002-09) The Fifth European Health Forum Gastein, which took place in Bad Hofgastein, 25-28 September 2002, was the occasion of a lecture by Dr Resch (consultant at the Landeskrankenhaus Krems) in which he presented the results of a comparative study on the interaction between white wine and health.

Dr Resch, First Consultant at the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Landeskrankenhaus Krems, has investigated possible positive effects of wine on general health. The results of his study have led to the development of therapies, especially his Weinkur Dr. Resch®, which showed such positive results that he decided to conduct a more thorough study.
The randomized and comparative study with 204 subjects was designed to investigate the effects of white wine. The participants were divided into two groups, both receiving advice on nutrition and fitness training. Over a period of twelve weeks, members of one group costumed moderate amounts of white wine daily. This "medication" consists of white wines made of the Grüner Veltliner, Weißburgunder, Riesling and Welschriesling grapes.
Data measured in the study are clinical data such as liver, blood sugar, and blood fat, etc., as well as "soft" factors such as quality of life and general wellbeing. First results of the study will be available in spring 2003.

Dr Resch's lecture was entitled "Drink Wine and you will be Healthy". It was based on a three principles; "drink", "wine", and "healthy". Drink: only moderate wine consumption shows positive results. Wine: Many studies and demonstrate that the health effects of chemical compounds contained in wine are superior to those contained in other alcoholic beverages such as brandy or beer. Most wine studies were conducted with red wine. There are, however, indications that white wines have by and large for the same health effects as red wines and may have even more advantageous characteristics. Healthy: wellbeing and quality of life are important factors of longer life expectancy, not just individual lab results and clinical findings.

Michael Thurner, chairman of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board is delighted with the work of Dr Resch, investigating the effects of moderate wine consumption. "The message 'red wine is healthy' created a boom for the red wine industry. This study may help white wine to retake its rightful place."

Press release, September 02
Österreichische Weinmarketingservice GmbH
Michael Thurner, Iris Kovacs
Phone: 0043 1 503 92 67
info@weinausoesterreich.at

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