Now it's the 'red wine pill'

Teetotallers may soon be able to enjoy the health benefits of red wine by taking a pill.

Scientists in Italy are working on a tablet that will provide all the drink's health properties, but without the alcohol - and the hangover.

There is evidence that drinking a moderate amount of red wine can lower the risk of heart disease, and possibly some cancers.

Scientists have pinpointed the high level of antioxidant chemicals called flavonols in red wine. These boost levels of "good" cholesterol while cutting down any "bad" cholesterol, helping to prevent the clogging of arteries that leads to heart disease.

Antioxidants in red wine also mop up substances called free radicals which are believed to contribute to causing cancer.

The pill, being worked on at the Pavese Pharma Biochemical Institute at Pavia in Italy, would contain these healthy ingredients.

The New Scientist reported: "Freeze-drying and compacting the mix leaves a tablet with all the benefits of a glass of wine, say the inventors."

The benefits of red wine were discovered in the Seventies after researchers noticed the French ate large amounts of fatty food but suffered lower levels of heart disease than Britain and the US.