During the holiday season, wine is typically the alcoholic beverage of choice. Unfortunately, for some people, even a small amount of wine—red in particular—can cause a headache.
A new study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, explored the reason why red wine causes headaches compared to other alcoholic drinks that don’t have the same effect. Researchers discovered that red wine’s rich flavonol content, specifically quercetin, impacts how the body metabolizes alcohol, which can result in a headache.
Interestingly, quercetin is an antioxidant found in fruits such as grapes and vegetables. However, when combined with alcohol, it can have negative side effects.
What causes red wine headaches?
“Red wine contains more tannins and histamines compared to white wine, which are contributing factors of headaches,” said Dr. MaryAnn Mays, a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “Quercetin is a new potential factor—another culprit—for why people experience red wine headaches.”
Quercetin levels are influenced by grape cultivation, with sunlight exposure during growth potentially leading to higher quercetin content.
Specifically, quercetin changes form when it’s metabolized with alcohol. Issues arise when quercetin interacts with alcohol during metabolism because it converts to a different form— quercetin glucuronide.
Researchers found that this metabolism results in the accumulation of acetaldehyde—an established toxin. This causes the classic symptoms of flushing, headaches, and nausea that are commonly associated with red wine.
“When we consume alcohol, our bodies quickly go to work to break it down into other compounds that are easier to get rid of,” said Dr. Nate Wood, an instructor of medicine and medical education fellow in the section of general internal medicine at the Yale School of Medicine.
“One of these compounds is called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is known to cause many of the nasty hangover symptoms we’re all familiar with, including headaches. Thankfully, our bodies make an enzyme to break down acetaldehyde, too. It’s called aldehyde dehydrogenase,” he continued.
Historically, it has been believed that red wine also contains higher levels of histamines and tannins compared to white wine, which some people can be sensitive to. Individuals predisposed to headaches may find even small amounts of wine triggering due to quercetin.
How to minimize headaches from drinking wine
- Avoid red wine, drink a small quantity white wine.
- Choose high quality wines. Lower-quality wines may be higher in sugar.
- Avoid drinking on an empty stomach.
- Practice the “1 to 1 rule” (glass of wine, then a glass of water; or sip of wine, then sip of water).
It’s also important to note that certain red wines are better than others. For instance, Pinot noir is a better choice compared to the fuller body wines like cabernet. This could be because it has a lower amount of tannins. It could also be certain grapes or regions that play a part as well. However, more research is needed when it comes to specific types of red wine.
Regarding white wine recommendations, Sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, or sparkling wines are lower in histamines. White wines are lower in tannins. If you think that sulfites cause your headaches, try one without added sulfites.
A recap: new research shows the compound quercetin found in red wine impacts how the body metabolizes alcohol, which can result in headaches.
Red wine has a greater chance of causing headaches because of the higher amount of tannins, quercetin, and histamines.
To decrease the risk of headaches, experts suggest switching to white wine, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding drinking on an empty stomach.
Source: Excerpted from an article by Kaitlin Vogel — Fact checked by Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/headaches-after-drinking-red-wine-flavanols-quercetin
