Scientists have found that the antioxidants in red and white wine increase the amount of the enzyme ACE2 in the body, which in turn facilitates the course of coronavirus infection.
The study was conducted by Laval University in Canada.
Roman Zinovkin, a senior researcher at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Moscow State University, explained that wine promotes the secretion of an essential enzyme - the antioxidant resveratrol. ACE2 deficiency increases the secretion of the AngII peptide, which causes inflammation, constricts blood vessels and damages the endothelium. High levels of ACE2 increase the chances of the virus penetrating the cell excessively.
"Therefore, a deficiency of ACE2 and an excess of AngII adversely affect the course of CoViD-19," the doctor said in a statement.
Resveratrol also reduces the immune activity of cells. However, experts note that when the respiratory distress syndrome caused by coronavirus, the immune system, in contrast, is overactive, so in this case, the antioxidant may have a positive effect.
In addition to wine, resveratrol is found in pistachios, peanuts, cocoa, grape skins, blueberries and cornel.