Health Benefits of Alcohol Aren’t for Everyone, or Are They?

It’s well-accepted that moderate alcohol intake (one glass a day for women, two for men) has a significant cardiovascular health benefits. But is this the case for everyone? Maybe not. British researchers have studied whether the benefits are experienced equally by all moderate drinkers, and published their findings in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The investigators followed almost 10,000 civil servants (government employees) for an average of 17 years. The participants were aged 44 on average, and none had a previous heart attack at enrollment. The subjects were classified according to their unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (smoking, lack of exercise, poor nutrition), and whether they were heavy, moderate, or non-drinkers.

A significant reduction in fatal or non-fatal heart attack was found in moderate drinkers (compared with heavy drinkers or abstinent subjects) who had two or three unhealthy behaviors. There was no comparable benefit in moderate drinkers who exercised, ate fruits and vegetables, and did not smoke.

It would be a mistake for healthy people to conclude that there are no health benefits to their daily glass (or two) of wine. An earlier study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, showed just the opposite. “Even in men already at low risk [of coronary disease] on the basis of body mass index, physical activity, smoking, and diet, moderate alcohol intake is associated with lower risk for MI.”

I think the earlier study takes a lot of the wind out of the sails of the newer study. But then I regard myself as healthy (for my age), and like my glass of red wine. So I’m going to keep on with my lifestyle choices.