Light to Moderate Alcohol Intake Equals Reduces Risk of Cardiac Events and Death

Filed in archive Cases , Studies , Treatment on July 31, 2006

According to a report that appeared in the July 24 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine (one of the JAMA/Archives journals), older adults who consume one to seven alcoholic beverages per week may live longer and have reduced risk of cardiac events than those who do not drink. This finding is an association that seems independent of the anti-inflammatory effects of alcohol.

Alcohol's overall effect on survival is not clear, though it could worsen some chronic diseases. But the fact that alcohol have shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and heart failure and contribute to a lower death rate as shown in several previous studies cannot be denied.

Like anything else in excess could be toxic, same is very true with regards to alcohol intake. Much like what was found out in this research study conducted in 2,487 adults (age 70-79 years) without heart disease: light to moderate alcohol intake reduced levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (compounds that circulate in the blood due to inflammation).

Such findings made the researchers suspect that the mechanism linking alcohol to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease may be related to inflammation. However, this alone does not fully explain the association of reduced risk of CVD to light and moderate drinking. We should not forget that genetic factors are also at play. Alcohol may have cellular and molecular effects leading to that protective effect.

It is in this note (genetics) that we are warned that the effects of alcohol may vary from one person to another (sex, race and background cardiovascular risk), where recommendations on alcohol consumption should be carefully based.

Source: EurekAlert