22.02.11
More studies link moderate drinking to positive health effects
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of alcohol consumption on heart disease has shown that those who drink in moderation experience health benefits compared to those who don’t.
Those who drink about once a day or less are between 14% and 25% less likely to develop heart disease compared to those drink nothing at all, according to research led by Professor William Ghali from the University of Calgary.
The paper, published on bmj.com today, continues to emphasise that large amounts of alcohol is bad for you, while moderate amounts significantly increase the levels of ‘good’ cholesterol circulating in the body. This has a protective effect against heart disease.
Professor Ghali concludes that the debate between the impact of alcohol on heart disease should now centre “on how to integrate this evidence into clinical practice and public health messages”.
He adds: “With respect to public health messages there may now be an impetus to better communicate to the public that alcohol, in moderation, may have overall health benefits that outweigh the risks in selected subsets of patients…any such strategy would need to be accompanied by rigorous study and oversight of impacts.”
The authors of both papers acknowledge that a number of previous studies have concluded that moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with a decrease in heart disease. However, they say that the research was out-of-date and there was a need for new material. Professor Ghali says his team’s research is the most comprehensive to date.
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