Red Wine Researcher Accused of Falsifying Data on Health Benefits

FoxNews.com ^ | 1/11/12 | AP

[ColdOne]

HARTFORD, Conn. – A University of Connecticut researcher known for his work on red wine's benefits to cardiovascular health falsified his data in more than 100 instances, university officials said Wednesday.

UConn officials said nearly a dozen scientific journals are being warned of the potential problems after publishing his studies in recent years.

The researcher, Dr. Dipak Das, did some studies of resveratrol, an ingredient in red wine that has shown potential for promoting health.

But Dr. Nir Barzilai, whose research team conducts resveratrol research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, told The Associated Press that Das is not a major figure in the field. The new allegations will not make a material difference to resveratrol research, which is being conducted extensively around the world with encouraging results from many labs, Barzilai said.

Enthusiasm in the potential health benefits from red wine grew after a widely reported study in 2006 in which obese mice lived longer, healthier lives after getting resveratrol. Das was not involved in that research.

UConn officials said their internal review found 145 instances over seven years in which Das fabricated, falsified and manipulated data, and the U.S. Office of Research Integrity has launched an independent investigation of his work.

It wasn't immediately known Wednesday whether the irregularities in Das' research were significant enough to alter the conclusions.

snip

Das could not immediately be reached Wednesday, and messages were left for him through the union representing him.

[MHGinTN]

Naw, it was the Marinara all along. ;^) (If you can't make your own, get Newman's Own Sockarooni.)

[Disambiguator]

My wife is putting the family on the GAPS diet for a while. Beer is verboten, but apparently Scotch Whisky and Gin are ok (in small quantities).

[92nina]

Now I can drink my white wine with a clear conscience.

[SuziQ]

Heh, I never liked most red wines, unless they’re mixed in Sangria. ;o)

[SunkenCiv]

Nir Barzilai: “I’m on to Lado.”

See, that would have worked if the guy’s last name had been Lado. Now he’s even a bigger a-hole, just because of that. ;’)

[SunkenCiv]

ad campaign idea:

Drink Red Wines -- Be Glad There Are No Blue Ones.