Research regarding alcohol and health continues to send mixed messages

Alcohol has a strong presence in the "Brew City." Milwaukee is the birthplace of many nationally distributed beers. The hometown baseball team is the Brewers, who play at Miller Park. Many festivals and social gatherings are centered on alcoholic beverages.

But what about the health consequences of alcohol consumption in the long-term? It seems for every study released saying alcohol has health benefits, there is another saying it should be avoided.

A recent study released by Wake Forest University showed older adults with no history of dementia could cut their odds of Alzheimer's and other cognitive decline by regular moderate drinking. Those in the study consuming one to two drinks per day had a 37 percent crop in dementia risk when compared with non-drinkiers. However, this same study showed those with even moderate brain health issues did not benefit from any alcohol consumption and had a significantly greater risk for dementia with heavy drinking.

Another study suggests that moderate drinking can also improve heart health, namely a lower risk of having a heart attack (Journal of the American Medical Association April 18, 2001; 285: 1965-1977) . Alcohol, according to this study, has been shown to raise HDL ("good") cholesterol and prevent blood clots from forming. Two similar studies show that a drink a day may promote survival in patients after a heart attack, as well as help the elderly steer clear of heart failure.

Other studies have linked moderate alcohol consumption with improved cognitive functioning and protection against arthritis.

Now before you stock your refrigerator with cold ones, there are other studies regarding alcohol that are not complimentary. According to researchers at the University of California at San Francisco, men who drink heavily may be raising their risk of developing prostate cancer. The researchers found that men who drank four or more drinks per day, on at least five days out of the week were twice as likely as non-drinkers to develop aggressive prostate tumors.

Another study from the University of Toronto suggested one in 25 deaths worldwide was attributable to alcohol consumption. The report authors warn the effect of alcohol disease is similar to that of smoking. The analysis also found that 5% of years lived with disability are attributable to alcohol consumption. According to the study the benefits of moderate drinking in relation to cardiovascular disease are far outweighed by the detrimental effects of alcohol on disease and injury,

Alcohol consumption has also been linked to increased risk for breast cancer (Epidemiology July 2001;11) , inappropriate stress response (Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research 2000;24:110-122.) and various cancers throughout the digestive system.

Based on these studies there is no obvious conclusion when it comes to alcohol consumption and health. It appears that the only potential benefits of alcohol are seen when it is consumed in moderation. Those who choose to drink should limit themselves to one to two drinks per day to avoid future health complications.
 

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