Health Benefits of Alcohol

It is no secret that the number of alcohol related deaths by varied causes have been on the rise for the last decade. According to the Nation Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc., there are 2.5 million alcohol related deaths annually, accounting for 4% of all deaths. Alcohol can however, be considered a double-edged sword. Do there exist benefits stemming from light or moderate consumption? If so, do these benefits outweigh the consequences of alcohol intake? One article not only challenges that certain cardiovascular benefits arise from alcohol use, but it also suggests that perhaps abstaining is no longer the healthiest option.

From the Journal of Clinical Cardiology comes an article published by Matthew L. Lindberg, MD and Ezra A. Amsterdam, MD Alcohol, Wine and Cardiovascular Health. They strive to answer questions on the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption using varying factors of age, gender, country of origin, pre-existing health conditions, type of alcohol, socioeconomic class, exercise habits and even shopping patterns. The writers define moderate drinking as those having two to three glasses daily, with one glass equaling 1.2oz of spirits, 5oz of wine or 12oz of beer. Included in the article are studies conducted over nine to eleven year periods, in which participants are required to return for a follow-up years after the initial examination and survey. An in depth analysis presents different results for women, the elderly, those with generally healthier habits and those living in different regions of the world. Their basic findings show that a consumption of two to five glasses of wine reduces all-cause mortality from 24% to 31% across all social classes, as well as a reduced risk for specific cardiovascular related deaths.

Amsterdam and Lindberg do address that there are increased risks for consuming three or more drinks daily. While the tone of the article is generally in support of light to moderate alcohol intake, the authors do not present enough evidence to suggest that those choosing to abstain from drinking might reconsider.

http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/in-the-news/155-25-million-alcohol-related-deaths-worldwide-annually