Red wine and dark chocolate may not be as healthy as had been hoped, according to research published yesterday.
Laboratory studies have suggested that a chemical common to the two products, resveratrol, may have powerful health-giving properties.
But a study of elderly people conducted in the Italian wine-making region of Chianti has found no evidence that the chemical makes any difference to overall health.
Researchers were able to measure the amount of resveratrol consumed by the 783 men and women by measuring urine samples.
Their conclusion, over nine years, was that there was no link between resveratrol in the circulation and rates of cancer, heart disease, death or inflammatory disease.
The findings were published in JAMA Internal Medicine and conducted by Dr Richard Semba, of the Johns Hopkins University medical school in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
The British Heart Foundation said the findings should not put an end to research into resveratrol.
Maureen Talbot, from the foundation, said: “The results of this study, while interesting, will not change the dietary advice we provide. People should continue to eat plenty of fruit, veg and wholegrains.
“We recognise the need to learn more about the action of resveratrol though, so are funding research into its reported disease-combating properties and how it affects the heart and circulatory system.
“This research is vital as it could form the basis of future medicines.”
JAMA Intern Med 12 May 2014; doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.1582
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