Moderate alcohol intake may protect health

Fresh research has linked light to moderate alcohol consumption to a lower risk of death from all causes, particularly cardiovascular disease.

Light to moderate alcohol consumption could have health benefits, study claims

The results, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, conclude a study of more than 333,247 US adults over the course of 12 years.

Researchers found that women who drank moderately had a 25% lower risk for all causes of death, and 34% decreased risk of cardiovascular death.

For men who drank moderately, the risk of death from all causes was 13% lower, and 21% lower for cardiovascular death.

Light drinkers across men and women presented similar results to moderate drinkers.

However, the researchers highlighted that when drinkers moved from moderate to heavy drinking, the health benefits became detrimental and men’s risk of death from all causes rose 25%, with a 67% increase in risk of death from cancer.

Giovanni de Gaetano, MD, PhD, said in an accompanying editorial to the study: “The results supported the conclusion that the J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and mortality risk cannot be dismissed.”

The Distilled Spirits Council acknowledged the possible benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, but warned that even moderate drinking can pose health risks, and noted that some people should not drink any alcohol.

Dr Sam Zakhari, senior vice president of science for the Distilled Spirits Council, said: “This study adds to the large body of science on the potential health benefits of moderate consumption of alcohol.

“Importantly, the authors make clear, light to moderate drinking might be protective, but heavy drinking has serious health consequences.”