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A Spanish research study of more than 15,500 men and 26,000 women, published in the journal Heart, found that alcohol consumption reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, with the benefits increasing for those who imbibe large quantities of alcohol. The lifetime drinking habits of men and women between the ages of 29 and 69 were examined and the subjects were followed for 10 years. The study was completed in Spain, a country with relatively high rates of alcohol consumption and low rates of coronary heart disease. It is important to note that researchers did eliminate those who became to ill to continue with the study from the final statistics.
Study participants were divided into six categories, ranging from those who never have drank alcohol to those consuming greater than 90 grams of alcohol per day, equal to approximately 8 bottles or 28 pints of lager per week. The type of alcohol comsumed did not seem to have an effect. Those who drank little, such as the equivalent of slightly less than a shot of spirits per day, showed a 35% decrease in the risk of developing coronary heart disease, and those who drank the equivalent of three to more than eleven shots per day showed a 50% decrease.
The benefits of alcohol consumption were greater for men than women. Women process alcohol differently than men and have fewer heart issues; female hormones protect against heart disease in younger women. Although the exact mechanism is not known, alcohol is known to increase the amount of high-density lipoproteins, more commonly known as HDL or "good cholesterol", which helps stop "bad cholesterol" (LDL) from building up in arteries.
While it may be tempting to use this study as an excuse to indulge heavily this weekend, it is important to note that this study only examined the effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of coronary heart disease. The heart is only one of many organs in the body and excessive alcohol consumption can also cause heart damage. Consumption of large quantities of alcohol is associated with cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, which can cause a drastic reduction in the quality of life and early death. Excessive alcohol consumption is also known to cause many other health problems, notably cirrhosis of the liver. Regular binge drinking, defined as drinking six units of alcohol in six hours, also greatly increases the risk of stroke.
Go ahead and enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner, but don't finish off a bottle every night. Moderation is key to enjoying the benefits of alcohol consumption, but not putting yourself at risk. "People should not be encouraged to drink more as a result of this research" says Professor Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. [BBC]
For more info: Visit the American Heart Association for more information on heart health.
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