Red wine researcher Dr. Dipak K. Das published fake data: UConn

This 2006 photo shows red wine researcher Dr. Dipak K. Das with grapes and wine glasses at his office at the UConn Health Center in Farmington, Conn. UConn officials said an internal review found 145 instances over seven years in which Das fabricated, falsified and manipulated data.

/ AP Photo/University of Connecticut

(CBS) Are studies tying red wine to health benefits nothing more than wishful thinking? Some red wine studies may soon be called into question following a report that a top researcher at the University of Connecticut falsified data on more than 100 occasions.

UConn officials conducted an internal review into the work of Dr. Dipak K. Das, director of the cardiovascular research center at the university, after the university received an anonymous tip. Das had been known in recent years for his research on the benefits of resveratrol, a compound found in red wine. Resveratrol is thought to work because it activates proteins called sirtuins that have been shown in studies to have protective benefits.

The officials found 145 cases of fabricated or false data and notified 11 journals - including the Journal of Cellular & Molecular Medicine and Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry - of its review, the university said in a written statement.

"We have a responsibility to correct the scientific record and inform peer researchers across the country," Philip Austin, interim vice president for health affairs, said in the statement.

As a result of UConn's three-year investigation that culminated in a 60,000 page report on the allegations, UConn has declined $890,000 in research grants and cut off external funding to the lab.

It's unclear at this time which studies contained falsified data, so wine aficionados can hold out hope that red wine might benefit a person's health.

The Connecticut Mirror reports that much of the research discrepancies centered on "western blot" figures, which illustrate specific proteins from tissue samples. The review showed these images may have been manipulated to combine data from other experiments, which were passed off as coming from a single experiment.

"Many figures had more manipulations but, for expediency, the review board only noted the most obvious," in flagging 145 cases of misconduct according, to the paper.

According to the research bibliography site PubMed, Das has served as a lead author or co-author on more than 150 articles, including a Jan. 2012 study titled, "Health benefits of wine and alcohol from neuroprotection to heart health," published in Frontiers in Bioscience.

Das' other areas of research besides resveratrol include medicines derived from plants and the molecular structure of plants and herbs and their effect on heart disease, according to the Associated Press.

Earlier reservatrol studies have suggested the compound might be "exercise in a bottle" in its ability to stave off the effects of a sedentary lifestyle, while other research has said the compound might reduce risk for skin cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, some studies have showed resveratrol lowers levels of "bad" cholesterol and protects the lining of heart blood vessels.

In 2009, 60 Minutes' Morley Safer profiled potential benefits of resveratrol.

Some resveratrol researchers were not concerned by the fraud allegations and still believe the compound can improve longevity.

"I don't expect this news to have a big impact on what we work on," Dr. David Sinclair, a resveratrol researcher at the Harvard Medical School, told CBS News in an email. Sinclair had been featured in the 2009 60 Minutes report. Sinclair said his research focuses on sirtuins and aging, while a lot of the published research papers in question focused on heart health. 

"There is a comprehensive body of literature in mouse and rats indicating that resveratrol is effective in preventing numerous diseases in those animals, including type II diabetes, neurodegeneration, fatty liver, and inflammation, Sinclair said. "These results would not be in question, even if some of his work is retracted."

[JT107]

This is why we constantly get report that totally contradicts what a previous "study" has said.

Its like America is totally corrupt. Our Governments pockets (both Democrat and Republican) are ALL lined with money from big business, and they make their laws to favor whomever gives them the most money.

And now we have "scientists" who do the same thing. They are all corrupt and their pockets most likely lined with money. Either by someone who benefits from it, or him making himself famous.

Its truly sad and sickening.

[jechaucer]

So is this clown the only one in the world doing this research? For several years now we have heard about the benefits of red wine and its correlation with heart disease. Has any other medical school or research lab done their own tests or is he supposedly the only one?

[WisCT]

Darn.

[snowlynn]

The whole resveratrol field is full of this kind of thing. This is just an example of the difference between UConn and Harvard. UConn investigates and comes clean while Harvard buried similar allegations against their red wine guy. Ironic to see him quoted in this story. Makes you wonder if he's getting nervous too.

[KnowerseekerReturns]

I wonder how often researchers falsify their data.

[vielmann]

I'm sure it happens quite a bit especially if they want to continue receiving funding. However, the whole purpose of science is to test and retest and retest again. I do tire a bit of all the individual studies that come off with stuff no one else has yet to come up with. You just can't trust every study out there unless there is a consensus of studies that agree.

[handlemewithcare]

Maybe he falsified his data so his wife could drink.

[ToobBox]

Mmmyeah I get that marijuana is safer than alcohol, but LSD? LSD can cause severe damage to one's brain correct? And people who have mental illness in their family should certainly stay away from hallucinogens. I agree the war on drugs is an unnecessary waste of tax payer dollars. Also I think people love to find something good about their drug of choice and run with it. Like "oooh coffee has antioxidants! so I can drink as much as I want!". As we all know there is a yin and yang to everthang...

[hyrule5]

No, LSD does not cause brain damage. I don't understand why people make assumptions about drugs or accept hearsay about them without looking up the facts (government-provided "facts" don't count- they are biased in favor of the war on drugs). In reality, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous championed the use of LSD as an acceptable "spiritual experience" which is part of his 12 step program to help alcoholics quit drinking.

[honu024]

No- LSD does not create severe damage to the brain. It is one of the safest drugs ever created- safer then many pharmaceuticals.

Maybe see the ACMD report prepared for the UK Govt last year ranking drug harms to society and the individual. (hint: alcohol and tobacco were in the top 5 in each category- LSD at the bottom)

[legalizemj]

Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Cannabis - only ONE lacks the ability to kill you. Alcohol consumers deserve the right to switch to the FAR safer recreational drug, Cannabis!

[Cru09]

Sure, I'm for that. Neurogenesis and whatnot.
In the meantime, pouring a healthy glass.

It's time they left the vices alone and stuck to punishing influenced actions.