Science questions if moderate alcohol intake is beneficial

October 19, 9:21 AMAtlanta Wellness ExaminerJames Williams

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In the first study of it's kind, researchers have examined whether the moderate consumption of alcohol played a part in the mobility of people aged 70-79.

The article, published in a recent edition of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, examined 3,061 adults over six and a half years and determined that moderate to light consumption of alcohol had very little do to with improving functional ability or reducing functional decline. The authors reran the statistical tests and found that it was lifestyle changes, not the consumption of alcohol that benefitted a person's level of functioning as a senior citizen.

"Globally taken, these results suggest that the reported protective effect of moderate alcohol intake on physical performance may be only apparent, because life-style related characteristics seem to be the real determinant of the reported association, suggesting caution in attributing a direct benefit of moderate alcohol intake on functional ability," according to Cinzia Maraldi M.D., the lead author. "From this point of view, in our opinion life-style recommendations for the prevention of disability should be based on interventions proven to be safe and effective, such as weight control and physical exercise."

Source: Maraldi, C. et al. (2009). Moderate alcohol intake and risk of functional decline: The health, aging, and body composition study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 57(10). 1767-1775.