New research has discovered the cause of headaches in some people after consuming even small amounts of red wine. While headaches from alcoholic beverages typically occur after excessive consumption, red wine can cause headaches after just one or two small glasses. The cause of this phenomenon has long been sought after by researchers, with phenolic compounds (flavonoids) being a possible culprit. However, other foods with high flavonoid content, such as berries, cocoa, nuts, and vegetables, do not cause headaches in humans. A study published in the journal Biochimica et Biophysica Acta in 2000 found that certain flavonoids, including quercetin found in red wine, can affect an enzyme responsible for alcohol metabolism in the body. But this study only examined the potentially cancer-preventing properties of the enzyme and not the processes that could trigger headaches.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) have now investigated how quercetin affects alcohol metabolism. According to the study published in the journal Scientific Reports, the body converts quercetin in the bloodstream into another form that inhibits alcohol metabolism. This leads to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, an intermediate product in alcohol metabolism, in the body, causing unpleasant side effects such as headaches. Acetaldehyde is a known toxin that can cause symptoms such as redness, headaches, and nausea in high concentrations, according to various studies. The quercetin content in red wine varies greatly depending on various factors, including sunlight exposure. Red wine made from grape varieties grown in particularly sunny regions can contain up to five times more quercetin than other red wines and therefore cause headaches more quickly.
This new research sheds light on the cause of headaches in some people after consuming red wine. While flavonoids were previously thought to be the culprit, it is now known that quercetin affects alcohol metabolism, leading to the accumulation of acetaldehyde in the body. This information could be useful for those who experience headaches after consuming red wine, as they may be able to avoid wines with high quercetin content.
