If you enjoy a shiraz or Chianti from time to time, you may be familiar with the dreaded "red wine headache." That pain may stem from a compound called quercetin, which disrupts the body's ability to break down alcohol, scientists have discovered.
Quercetin is an antioxidant found in fruit and vegetables, including grape skins, and some people take it as a supplement for its purported health benefits. However, at least in the lab, scientists discovered that it inhibits an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) that's key for metabolizing alcohol in the liver.
