Discovering the Science Behind Red Wine’s Headache-Causing Effects

Scientists at the University of California have solved a centuries-old mystery about why red wine can cause headaches within 30 minutes to three hours after consuming just one small glass. A naturally occurring compound called quercetin, found in fruit and vegetables, may be to blame. Quercetin is an antioxidant that is also a type of flavanol, a plant pigment that gives these foods their color. When combined with red wine, it disrupts the body’s ability to break down alcohol, leading to migraines, flushes, nausea, and headaches.

Researchers Professor emeritus Andrew Waterhouse and Dr Apramita Devi from the viticulture and enology department at the university discovered that when quercetin enters the bloodstream, it gets converted into quercetin glucuronide which blocks the metabolism of alcohol. This leads to an accumulation of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism. High levels of acetaldehyde can cause facial flushing, headache, and nausea.

It was also found that not all red wines trigger headaches in the same way. Factors like sunlight exposure during grape growth and aging process influence whether a glass of wine will cause a near-immediate headache. Wines from sunnier regions are more likely to have high quantities of quercetin which makes them more likely to trigger headaches. Furthermore, people with pre-existing migraines or other headache conditions are more likely to suffer from red wine headaches according to Professor Morris Levin who co-authored the study.

The researchers believe they are finally on track towards explaining this millennia-old mystery and plan to conduct further studies on humans who develop these types of headaches.

In conclusion, scientists at the University of California have unraveled a longstanding mystery surrounding why red wine can cause near-immediate headaches within 30 minutes to three hours after consuming just one small glass. The naturally occurring compound called quercetin may be responsible for this phenomenon as it disrupts the body’s ability to break down alcohol leading to migraines and other symptoms associated with alcohol consumption such as flushes and nausea.