Here at ZDNet Health, we love a good research study. We revere the importance of research. We enjoy discussing research. We even love debating about whether we should discuss it, but we’re always psyched about the knowlege that we gain. Plus, we’re tech savvy, so Photoshop is like a good friend to many of us.
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This week’s wacky high drama involves a lot of controversy around Professor Dipak Das’ published studies of how resveratrol, a component of red wine, affects cardiovascular health.
First, there were anonymous allegations of research irregularities at the University of Connecticut, which sparked official investigations, which revealed a convoluted trail of falsified studies, doubt, betrayal, Photoshop fraud, bad management skills, abdication of responsibility, professional misconduct, and a backlash of allegations of breaking and entering, decades old vendettas, racism, and anti-Indian bias.
There have been humiliating letters of notification sent to 11 professional journals, a 60,000 page report detailing 145 counts of fabrication and falsification of data, close to $900,000 of research funding being returned to government sources, at least one absent-minded professor in the process of getting fired, and a whole passel of lawyers presumably happily generating a staggering number of billable hours.
Red wine goes well with many dishes, but maybe this one is best served cold.
If you’re wondering if this casts doubt on the whole body of resveratrol research, to paraphrase Corrante’s Derek Lowe, this particular resveratrol researcher isn’t exactly a major player in his field, so this scandal probably won’t discredit much in the long run.
So should you drink red wine or not?
Resveratrol/sirtuin research is a pretty complex topic as it is, and the bad publicity probably doesn’t help matters much.
My take on the bottom line for you, is that if it’s agreed upon between you and your doctor that it’s okay to regularly drink red wine in moderation with dinner for the health benefits, enjoy!
I definitely recommend asking your doctor before plopping down hard-earned cash on expensive supplements that may or may not benefit your personal health situation, and if you do take them with your Doc’s recommendation, take them according to his or her instructions.
Have you been following this red, red wine scandal? If so, stay close to me and share your thoughts in the TalkBacks below.
