Professor Miguel Ángel Martínez-González, Full Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of the University of Navarra and director of group CIBERof Obesity and Nutrition of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, gave last October 2 the 18th Stare-Hegsted Nutrition Master Lecture at Harvard University, a lecture entitled "Should we eliminate wine from the Mediterranean per diem expenses ?". The discussion paper was attended by leading academics and practitioners in the field of nutrition such as Walter Willett, director of the Harvard School of Public Health for 25 years and currently the scientist with the highest publication record and the most cited in the world in articles on Nutrition. In addition, the meeting was attended by a group of alumni of of the University who work or are currently doing stays of research in the American center.

During his exhibition, Professor Martínez-González shared research and findings related to the cardiovascular and longevity benefits associated with the Mediterranean per diem expenses , based on programs of study that he himself has led from the University of Navarra, such as project SUN and essay PREDIMED.

One of the highlights of his presentation was the estimate that the Mediterranean per diem expenses could lose between 12% and 24% of its protection if moderate wine consumption, defined as up to 1 glass per day in women and up to 2 in men, always with meals, were eliminated. This finding is based on research conducted in several countries, including the United States and Greece.

More than 10,000 patients in the largest clinical essay on alcohol use

However, Professor Martinez-Gonzalez stressed that these benefits are age-related and apply mainly to older people. "The message that total abstinence from alcohol is the healthiest option should be directed across the board to people under 35 years of age. Even the benefit of wine in people over 40 is in doubt due to certain results from programs of study modeling and epidemiology Genetics".

To get more definitive answers on this topic, he announced the development of the largest ever clinical alcohol essay called UNATI (University of Navarra Alumni Trialists Initiative). "This essay will include more than 10,000 drinkers and has been funded by the European committee of research (ERC). More than 400 physicians, most of them alumni from the University of Navarra, will participate as trialists." The results of this study are expected to be available in 5 years deadline .