Researchers have been debating the pros and cons of alcohol against heart disease for decades. Two new studies add to the evidence that moderate alcohol consumption appears to be beneficial for cardiovascular health. In one study, researchers identified 12,195 patients who experienced first time heart attacks and compared them to 15,583 people who had not had a heart attack. Those who reported moderate alcohol consumption had a 13 percent lower risk of heart attack. Heavy drinking, however, increased the risk of heart attack, particularly in older adults.
In the other study, information on 70,000 Swedish adults from 1998 to 2011 was analyzed. Men who drank four to six glasses of adult beverage a week had a 20 percent reduction in the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm compared to those who drank less than one glass a week. Women experienced a 44 percent reduced risk if they drank up to five glasses of alcohol per week. Above that amount, alcohol consumption had a negative impact on abdominal aortic aneurysm. The protection seen was only among people who had relatively high risk for cardiovascular diseases.
The researchers speculate that moderate alcohol consumption may reduce inflammation, but an accompanying editorial in the journal Circulation suggests that alcohol blunts the usual sharp rise in blood sugar after meals. This action might also offer some cardiovascular protection.
[Circulation, online June 13, 2014 and June 25, 2014]
The People’s Pharmacy perspective on these latest studies confirming the benefits of some, but not much, alcohol for preventing heart and circulatory problems is that it should encourage drinkers to keep their consumption moderate. The usual conservative recommendation that people who don’t already drink probably shouldn’t start in the interests of cardiovascular health probably should hold, but those who do enjoy a glass or wine or beer, especially with meals, should feel vindicated.
It may be worth noting that some people need to avoid alcohol because of possible interactions with their prescription medications. It is a good idea to check with the prescriber and the pharmacist about this potential.
