Moderate drinking could reduce heart disease

Moderate alcohol consumption could help prevent the risk of people experiencing heart attacks by 11%, new research has shown.

Drinking two standard-sized drinks a day could reduce the risk of heart disease by 11%, research has suggested

According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, a low-risk diet together with moderate alcohol consumption led to an estimated 35% lower risk of heart attack.

Scientists in Stockholm examined 20,721 Swedish men aged 45-79 and found that low risk lifestyle behaviours included: having a healthy diet; not smoking; being physically active; having no abdominal fat and moderate alcohol consumption (approximately one to two standard drinks a day for men, one for women).

Moderate alcohol consumption, which includes drinking spirits wine or beer, was found to reduced the likelihood of a heart attack by 11%.

The study found that combining a low-risk diet together with moderate alcohol consumption led to an estimated 35% lower risk of heart attack compared to the high-risk group, those who practice none of the low-risk factors.

Men who combined the low-risk diet and moderate alcohol consumption with not smoking, being physically active and having a low amount of abdominal fat, had 86% lower risk.

“It is not surprising that healthy lifestyle choices would lead to a reduction in heart attacks,” said Agneta Akesson, lead author of the study. “What is surprising is how drastically the risk dropped due to these factors.”