Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
First, the bad news:
I often comforted myself, after the second or third (or sixth or eleventh) glass of wine, that I’m just exhibiting heart healthy behavior. Not so fast, drunkie. Some of those red-wine-is-good-for-you studies have turned out to be false. From Reuters:
A University of Connecticut researcher who studied the link between aging and a substance found in red wine has committed more than 100 acts of data fabrication and falsification, the university said Wednesday, throwing much of his work into doubt.
Dipak K. Das, who directed the university's Cardiovascular Research Center, studied resveratrol, touted by a number of scientists and companies as a way to slow aging or remain healthy as people get older. Among his findings, according to a work promoted by the University of Connecticut in 2007, was that "the pulp of grapes is as heart-healthy as the skin, even though the antioxidant properties differ."
The university said an anonymous tip led to an investigation that began in 2008. A 60,000-page report -- the summary of which is available at bit.ly/xkyS4A -- resulted, outlining 145 counts of fabrication and falsification of data. Other members of Das' laboratory may have been involved, and are being investigated, the report continues.
And now, the good news. They may have figured out a way to allow you to drink as much as you like without getting drunk. From something called Mother Nature News:
Imagine a pill that could instantly sober you up no matter how much you've had to drink, or a hangover cure that worked minutes after swallowing it. Hardened drinkers rejoice: researchers are about to begin human trials on an "alcohol antidote" that may soon offer a cure to alcoholism, reports New Scientist. The drug is a chemical called dihydromyricetin, or DHM, and is derived from a Chinese variety of the oriental raisin tree, which has been used for at least 500 years in China as an effective hangover cure. So far the extract has only been tested on boozing rats, but with promising results.
"DHM will reduce the degree of drunkenness for the amount of alcohol drunk and will definitely reduce the hangover symptoms," said Jing Liang, lead researcher in the study. "In time, it will reduce [an alcoholic's] desire for alcohol."
I mean, I guess that's good news. It's hard to imagine that a drug that mitigates drunkenness will deter alcoholics. Seems like a green light to me.
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Comments:
Dec '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
The question about DHM is whether it allows one to drink unlimited quantities of alcohol without poisoning oneself to death. If DHM reduces the perceptual effect of alcohol, it may just make the alcoholic increase his self-dosage until he gets the effect he's used to... by which time he may be in respiratory arrest.
Jul '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
"Imagine a pill that could instantly sober you up no matter how much you've had to drink, or a hangover cure that worked minutes after swallowing it"
Why on earth would I want a pill to instantly sober Me up after having spent all that time and money getting drunk?
Also, if You drink enough for long enough You'll stop getting hangovers.
Aug '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
So...the makers of DMH have seen Revenge of the Nerds?
May '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
How much of the research on wine/red wine is now tainted? Is this AGW-level?
Aug '11
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
Geez we all might as well start drinking synthehol.
Jul '11
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
It would appear the Das has been given the Boot.
Aug '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
It has no bite.
Jul '11
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
60,000 page report? Who could read such a thing?
Jul '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
Now that I think about it, Someone should develop a pill that will keep Me at a functioning cool .13 buzz throughout the day. I would be more productive without all the lavatory visits.
Jul '11
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
This sounds like a buzz kill to me.
Aug '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
.13 buzz ?
That is pretty much the average here at the power plant, except when we change the fuel rods out. But that's just because the Iranian guys can't drive worth a darn. A couple of vicodin do the trick until lunch though.
Rob, Your responsibility to be the bearer of such bad tidings is questionable. I have found a good clinic for that.
There is no bad news for drunks, that's why we scorn the MSM.
Love,
Homer
Jun '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
You'd need a couple of drinks to get through it.
May '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
Well, if you have lost your faith in wine, you can always come over to beer...
Of course you could reduce that down to: "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
Any other Ricochet homebrewers out there?
Jun '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
Rob Long:
"The drug is a chemical called dihydromyricetin, or DHM, and is derived from a Chinese variety of the oriental raisin tree, which has been used for at least 500 years in China as an effective hangover cure. So far the extract has only been tested on boozing rats, but with promising results."
I was wondering what those mobile laboratories marked "DHM Study" were that were parked next to the Capitol building in D.C.
Oct '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
One may not feel too poorly, save ther is no mention of liver damage there.
Get pickled and save the embalming cost. Perhaps we will be required to take something like Soma, from the movie, under ObamaCare. Hmmm.
Rather enjoy drink and the consequences.
Apr '11
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
Bad News for Drunks? I'll give you bad news for drunks! I'd have to cut way back just to be considered a lush by this guy.
Dec '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
If you want to see some great (or depressing...) stuff on problems in scientific literature, check out RetractionWatch. They cover everything from the "oops, we used the wrong protein construct" to the really nasty stuff like intentional data manipulation. I have nightmares about the former - "geez, I hope I grabbed the right tube out of the freezer..."
Dec '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
Speaking of RetractionWatch, they have three items up right now about the Das case, including this one, titled "So how peripheral was Dipak Das' resveratrol work, really?" (the others are here and here). People in the field have indicated that this scandal doesn't do too much damage to the body of resveratrol research - see the discussion in this very good article referenced by RW - , but it's too early to tell and some of the defenders have financial interests in the case. Says RW:
It will take a while to sort all of this out. I for one, will need a couple of drinks to make it through.
Aug '10
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
Waitaminute... THAT'S NOT EGG NOG!!!!
Mar '11
Re: Bad News (and Good News) for Drunks
A man should have a vice, Rob, and it should be one worth having.
Whatever the studies end up saying about this, they won't dissuade me that good wines, micro-brewed beers, and strong scotch aren't, in moderation, good for the body and for the soul. Best when shared with worthy company.