DRINKING ALCOHOL NO HEALTH BENEFITS
Reducing the amount of
alcoholic beverages consumed, even for light-to-moderate drinkers, may improve
cardiovascular health, including a reduced risk of coronary heart disease,
lower body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure, according to a new multi-center
study published in The BMJ and co-led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University
of Pennsylvania. The latest findings call into question previous studies which
suggest that consuming light-to-moderate amounts of alcohol (0.6-0.8 fluid
ounces/day) may have a protective effect on cardiovascular health.
The new research
reviewed evidence from more than 50 studies that linked drinking habits and
cardiovascular health for over 260,000 people. Researchers found that
individuals who carry a specific gene which typically leads to lower alcohol consumption
over time have, on average, superior cardiovascular health records.
Specifically, the results show that individuals who consume 17 percent less
alcohol per week have on average a 10 percent reduced risk of coronary heart
disease, lower blood pressure and a lower Body Mass Index.
"These new
results are critically important to our understanding of how alcohol affects
heart disease. Contrary to what earlier reports have shown, it now appears that
any exposure to alcohol has a negative impact upon heart health," says
co-lead author Michael Holmes, MD, PhD, research assistant professor in the
department of Transplant Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the
University of Pennsylvania. "For some time, observational studies have
suggested that only heavy drinking was detrimental to cardiovascular health,
and that light consumption may actually be beneficial. This has led some people
to drink moderately based on the belief that it would lower their risk of heart
disease. However, what we're seeing with this new study, which uses an
investigative approach similar to a randomized clinical trial, is that reduced
consumption of alcohol, even for light-to-moderate drinkers, may lead to
improved cardiovascular health."
In the new study,
researchers examined the cardiovascular health of individuals who carry a
genetic variant of the 'alcohol dehydrogenase 1B' gene, which is known to
breakdown alcohol at a quicker pace. This rapid breakdown causes unpleasant
symptoms including nausea and facial flushing, and has been found to lead to
lower levels of alcohol consumption over time. By using this genetic marker as
an indicator of lower alcohol consumption, the research team was able to
identify links between these individuals and improved cardiovascular health.
The study was funded
by the British Heart Foundation and the Medical Research Council, and was an
international collaboration that included 155 investigators from the UK,
continental Europe, North America, and Australia.
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