Moderate consumption of alcohol pretty good for the heart

Written by Sandeep Nehra

People consuming alcohol in moderation, at about one drink a day are less likely to suffer and die from heart disease, according to meta-analysis of dozens of scientific studies.

These studies, which call-to-date meta-analysis (gathering the results of a series of independent studies) from several years ago, published online Wednesday by the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

At first, researchers at the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada) reviewed 84 studies linking alcohol consumption and heart disease.

This shows that moderate alcohol consumption (up to 15g of alcohol, the equivalent of a glass of wine for a woman to two glasses of alcohol or 30g for a man) is good health, increasing levels of “good” cholesterol (or HDL) cholesterol in the body, and having a protective effect against heart disease.

According to estimates by researchers, reducing risk of heart disease mortality in this case would be 14 to 25%. Drink more was associated with an increased risk compared to someone who does not drink.

According to Professor William Ghali, who led the study, it is the most extensive analysis done so far.

Another meta-analysis identified in 63 studies involving a total of nearly 1700 people, the effects of alcohol consumption on biological markers associated with heart disease such as cholesterol, levels of inflammation, cells fat and condition of the blood vessels.

It found that moderate consumption of alcohol in the same limits as the first study, had a beneficial effect on several of these markers (including cholesterol) and therefore a deterrent to heart disease. The study found that the effects were similar regardless of the type of beverage consumed.

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