Alcohol does not benefit the heart, claims new study

Date: Jul-11-2014 A new BMJ study finds that even among people who drink only light

to moderate amounts of alcohol, reducing consumption can improve heart health, reduce body mass

index, and bring down blood pressure.

The large multi-center international study, which was co-led by the Perelman School of Medicine at

the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, calls into question previous research that

suggests light to moderate drinking may be good for the heart.

The researchers found that people with a particular gene consumed 17% less alcohol per week, were less likely to binge drink, and were more likely to abstain from alcohol altogether, than non-carriers.

The study defines light to moderate drinking as consuming 0.6 to 0.8 fluid ounces of alcohol

a day, or 17 to 23 ml, which is roughly what a 175 ml glass of wine contains.

The 155 researchers - from the UK, continental Europe, North America, and Australia - pooled

and analyzed data about links between drinking habits and heart health from 56 epidemiological

studies covering more than 260,000 people of European descent.

They found that people with a particular gene consumed 17% less alcohol per week, were less

likely to binge drink, and were more likely to abstain from alcohol altogether, than non-

carriers.

These lower alcohol consumers typically had a 10% average reduced risk of coronary heart

disease, lower blood pressure and a lower body mass index (BMI).

The researchers conclude that reducing alcohol consumption across all levels of consumption -

even light to moderate drinking - is beneficial for heart health.

Co-lead author Michael Holmes, a research assistant professor in Perelman School of Medicine's

department of Transplant Surgery, says, "Contrary to what earlier reports have shown, it now

appears that any exposure to alcohol has a negative impact upon heart health."

He explains how for some time, observational studies have suggested only heavy drinking is bad

for the heart, and that light drinking might even provide some benefit, and this has led some

people to believe moderate consumption is good for their health, even lowering their risk of

heart disease.

Even for light-to-moderate drinkers, reduced consumption may improve heart health

"However, what we're seeing with this new study, which uses an investigative approach similar

to a randomized clinical trial, is that reduced consumption of alcohol, even for light-to-moderate drinkers, may lead to improved cardiovascular health," says Prof. Holmes.

The focus of the study was investigating the heart health of people who carry a particular

version of the gene "alcohol dehydrogenase 1B" which codes for a protein that helps to break down

alcohol more quickly than in non-carriers.

The rapid breakdown causes nausea, facial flushing, and other symptoms, and is linked to lower

levels of alcohol consumption over time.

The team used the gene as an indicator of lower alcohol consumption, and from there found the

links between lower consumption and improved heart health.

Funds from the British Heart Foundation and the Medical Research Council in the UK financed

the study.

In April 2014, Medical News Today learned how neuroscientists at the University of

Utah are investigating a region of the brain that regulates how sensitive we are to the negative

effects of alcohol. Inactivating this region of the brain in rats led them to drink more

alcohol, at a faster pace.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

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Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.