Effect Of Moderate Alcohol Use Research Articles

Effects of moderate ethanol exposure on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer in adult Wistar rats

While past studies have provided evidence linking excessive alcohol consumption to increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and colorectal cancer (CRC), existing data on the effects of moderate alcohol use on these conditions have produced mixed results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on risk factors associated with the development of CVDs and CRC in adult rats. Twenty-four, 14-month-old, non-deprived male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to either an ethanol group, which consisted of voluntary access to a 20% (v/v) ethanol solution on alternate days, or a water control group (n = 12/group) for 13 weeks. Blood samples were collected to analyze levels of albumin, glucose, adiponectin, lipids, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), C-reactive protein (CRP), high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), liver function enzymes, and antioxidant capacity. Colonic gene expression related to colon carcinogenesis was also assessed. Ethanol-treated rats were found to have significantly higher HDL-C and apoA1 levels compared to controls. Moderate alcohol consumption led to significantly lower CRP levels and a trend for decrease in HMGB-1, TNF-α, and 8-oxo-dG levels. In the ethanol-exposed group, colonic gene expression of superoxide dismutase was upregulated while aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 showed a trend for increase compared to the control group. These results indicate that adopting a moderate approach to alcohol consumption could potentially improve health biomarkers related to CVD and CRC by increasing HDL-C levels and antioxidant activity and reducing DNA damage and inflammatory activity.

The Longitudinal Effects of Moderate Alcohol Use on Mood and Cognition in Late Life Depression

<h3>Introduction</h3> Alcohol use disorder interferes with antidepressant treatment in older adults with major depression (LLD) and is associated with suicidal ideation. Less is known about the effects of moderate alcohol use in LLD on mood and cognitive outcomes over time. Much of the evidence on alcohol use and cognition and mood stems from epidemiological research and not clinical studies of depressed older adults. The purported benefits of moderate alcohol use on older adults' cognitive functioning have often been reported. Yet, not all studies report a positive association between moderate alcohol use and cognitive functioning, and there is also other evidence to suggest moderate alcohol use is correlated with markers of poorer brain health in older adults (e.g., atrophy). In respect to mood, epidemiological research suggests little to no association between moderate alcohol use and depression in older adults or even an inverse association with increased social interactions as a mediator. Given the times at conflicting evidence and the lack of longitudinal studies in well-defined clinical samples, we hypothesized that depressed older adults who were moderate drinkers would experience greater cognitive decline compared to depressed non-drinkers. We also hypothesized that moderate alcohol use would have a detrimental effect on depression illness course in older adults with LLD. <h3>Methods</h3> This study used data from Neurocognitive Outcomes of Depression in the Elderly (NCODE) study. NCODE participants underwent annual neuropsychological evaluations with the Consortium to Establish a Registry of Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) cognitive battery as well as other tests of executive functioning and processing speed (e.g., Trail Making Test). Participants also underwent annual depression severity ratings with a geriatric psychiatrist using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). We used patients self-reported alcohol use at the time of study entry and characterized them as either abstainers (n=81) and moderate drinkers (n=30). We were also able to define a small sample of risky drinkers (n=10) and included this group for exploratory reasons. Alcohol use was based upon NIAAA guidelines for older adult alcohol consumption. Risky alcohol use exceeded NIAAA alcohol consumption guidelines for older adults (meaning >=3 drinks per day or >=8 drinks per week) and moderate alcohol use was defined as <= 2 drinks per day or <=7 drinkers per week). We used mixed linear modeling to investigate change in depression and cognition among groups over time. These analyses included NCODE subjects who were followed for up to 5 years and adjusted for relevant demographics. <h3>Results</h3> In terms of cognition, we found that the total CERAD score of moderate and heavy drinkers significantly declined compared to no alcohol use patients (e.g.,moderate alcohol use x time interaction term estimate = -.00410, DF = 898, t = -5.02, <i>p</i> < .001) . We also found significant declines in Trails A performance among moderate alcohol users compared to the other groups. The MADRS score of moderate alcohol users was also found to decrease at a significantly higher rate compared to other patient groups. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Moderate alcohol consumption appears to have a beneficial impact on depression severity and a detrimental impact on cognitive functioning in LLD patients followed for upwards of five years. Larger samples are needed to confirm the findings in this small and exploratory study.

FUNCTIONAL LIMITATION IN LATER LIFE: THE IMPACT OF SIPS, SOCIALIZATION, AND SADNESS

Recent studies posit discrepant impacts of alcohol use on health outcomes. Potential reasons for contrasting results include: (1) selection bias involved in classifying individuals as “abstainers” or “drinkers,” (2) unexamined demographic variables associated with alcohol use, and (3) unaddressed mechanisms of action. Given new studies identifying socialization as a mediator between alcohol use and health outcomes, this study examines social interaction and depressive symptoms, respectively, as serial mediators in the relationship between moderate alcohol use and functional limitation, while employing methods to reduce selection bias. HRS data from 2012 and 2014 were utilized (n=1,902); heavy drinkers, adults younger than 65, and respondents with inconsistent alcohol use from 2008 to 2014 were excluded. Hypotheses were evaluated using a longitudinal serial mediation model with bias-corrected bootstrapping. Results indicated that, in the context of demographic variables, medical burden, and previous functional limitation, the beneficial relationship between moderate alcohol use and future functional limitation is only present when considering social interaction and depressive symptoms as mediators, both individually and serially (variance accounted for=39.4%). There was no direct effect of moderate alcohol use on functional limitation outside the context of these mediators. Data indicate that previously suggested relationships between moderate drinking and reduced functional limitation are better explained through increased social interaction and subsequent reduced depressive symptoms. Results identify social interaction as an accessible treatment target to prevent/reduce depressive symptoms and functional limitation in later-life, and support increased assessment of IADLs in adults experiencing depressive symptoms to facilitate early treatment/prevention of functional limitation.

The Benefit of Moderate Alcohol Use on Mood and Functional Ability in Later Life: Due to Beers or Frequent Cheers?

Evidence relates moderate alcohol consumption in later life to fewer depressive symptoms and greater functional ability. This study evaluated social interaction as a mediator of these outcomes. Data included older adults in the Health and Retirement Study. In Study 1, cross-sectional mediation analyses evaluated social interaction as a mechanism through which moderate alcohol use was related to decreased depressive symptomatology (Model 1; N = 2,294) and less functional limitation (Model 2; N = 2,357). In Study 2, longitudinal cross-lagged path analyses further evaluated the impact of moderate alcohol use and social interaction on future depressive symptoms and functional limitation. In Study 1, results from Model 1 indicated that moderate alcohol use was associated with decreased depressive symptomatology indirectly via greater social interaction. In Model 2, moderate alcohol use was associated with less functional limitation indirectly via greater social interaction. In Study 2, significant indirect effects corroborated findings from Study 1. In Model 3, moderate alcohol use in 2012 inversely predicted depressive symptomatology in 2014 via greater levels of social interaction in 2012. In Model 4, moderate alcohol use in 2012 predicted less functional limitation in 2014 via greater social interaction in 2012. Social interaction is essential to the seemingly beneficial effect of moderate alcohol use on depressive symptomatology and functional ability. Clinically, this suggests caution in attributing health benefits to consumption of alcohol itself and identifies social interaction as a treatment target for improved health outcomes in later life.

Impact of Moderate Alcohol Discontinuation on InsulinAction and Secretion in Latinos With and Without Hepatitis C.

Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Latinos are both at risk of IR and are disproportionately affected by HCV. Moderate alcohol consumption improves insulin sensitivity and may modify HCV-associated IR. We investigated the impact of moderate alcohol discontinuation on insulin sensitivity and secretion in Latinos using direct measurements. Twenty-five nondiabetic, noncirrhotic Latino adults without (n=17) or with (n=8) HCV underwent 3-day metabolic assessment before and after prescription of 6weeks of moderate alcohol discontinuation. Peripheral IR was measured via steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) and hepatic IR using endogenous glucose production during a 2-step 240-minute insulin suppression test. Insulin secretion was measured using graded glucose infusion test. Baseline mean age was 46±11years, 63% male, 29% had HCV, and mean body mass index was 27±4kg/m2 . Compared to non-HCV, HCV patients had a higher median SSPG (132 vs. 98.8mg/dl, p=1.0), hepatic IR (13.5 vs. 11.3, p=0.24), and insulin secretion rate (ISR-AUC, 1,290 vs. 1,250 pmol/min, p=0.98). After confirmed alcohol discontinuation, hepatic IR was the only parameter that changed significantly (increased, mean change 2.6±4.8, p=0.02). Higher baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was also associated with a greater change in hepatic IR (average 4.0 points/ALT doubling, p=0.004), and HCV was associated with a lesser change (average -7.3 points, p=0.002), independent of ALT. Short-term moderate alcohol discontinuation adversely impacted hepatic IR in Latinos which was influenced by level of ALT at baseline independent of etiology. Although reduction in ALT through weight loss and HCV eradication remains a priority in improving IR, the observed nonharmful effect of moderate alcohol use represents a potentially confounding variable that warrants further study.

Is moderate alcohol use in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease good or bad? A critical review.

Moderate alcohol consumption in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common, yet the effects on cardiovascular and liver health are unclear. Moderate alcohol use is associated with improved insulin sensitivity and decreased cardiovascular mortality in the general population, but whether similar benefits would be observed in persons with NAFLD remains largely unstudied. There is significant overlap in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and NAFLD, although studies of ALD have focused on pathological alcohol intake and few mechanistic studies of moderate alcohol use in NAFLD exist. We undertook a critical review of the effect of moderate alcohol use on cardiovascular and liver disease in patients with NAFLD. A total of seven observational studies met the criteria for inclusion (one for cardiovascular endpoints and six for liver endpoints). Insufficient studies have assessed the association of moderate alcohol use with cardiovascular outcomes. There was a positive association between moderate alcohol use and decreased NASH and fibrosis; however, heavy episodic drinking may accelerate fibrosis progression and moderate alcohol use may increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with advanced fibrosis. Significant methodological limitations were present, including incomplete adjustment for confounding factors and failure to measure lifetime use or the pattern of alcohol intake. Thus, a strong recommendation of benefit of moderate alcohol use in NAFLD cannot be made. There remains a need for additional high-quality longitudinal studies that evaluate both cardiovascular and liver outcomes among NAFLD patients with moderate or lesser degrees of alcohol use. (Hepatology 2017;65:2090-2099).

Alcohol and Canadian Health

BACKGROUND: The role of alcohol use as a cause of disease and a determinant of individual health has been examined by a large number of researchers and is an important policy issue.METHODS: The effect of alcohol use on the four most important diseases that afflict Canadians is examined by applying finite mixture probability models to data from the 2011-12 Canadian Community Health Survey. The effect on self-reported health is also considered.RESULTS: Regular drinking behaviour is shown to be associated with lower probabilities of having diabetes, coronary heart disease, or stroke, although it may lead to a higher probability of having cancer for some sub-populations. The net prophylactic effect of moderate alcohol use on diseases diseases other than cancer is positive and significant. Men and women in all age groups report higher health status scores as a result of regular alcohol use. Regular drinking also leads to fewer doctor visits.CONCLUSIONS: The fears and apprehension expressed by so many health researchers ignore the substantial beneficial effects that regular drinkers experience. Alcohol policy should therefore be less repressive more sympathetic to consumer wants.

Beneficial effects of moderate alcohol use-a case for Occam's razor?

Commentary to: Selection biases in observational studies affect associations between ‘moderate’ alcohol consumption and mortality

To your health!: Re-examining the health benefits of moderate alcohol use

Although excessive alcohol use and alcohol misuse contribute to a broad range of health problems, recent research indicates that moderate alcohol consumption may in fact be beneficial. The present study builds on previous research to investigate the associations between alcohol use and self-rated health status among young adults. Using data collected in 2008 from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), we use ordered probit models to determine whether the protective effects of moderate alcohol use are present after controlling for demographic, lifestyle, family background, and health-related characteristics. Our findings generally support earlier research with older samples, but some key gender differences are present. For women (n = 8275), moderate drinkers have better self-rated health status relative to former drinkers, infrequent drinkers, and light drinkers. Among men (n = 7207), the effects are mixed and less often significant. Differences in results between men and women point to the need for further gender-specific research and studies with other measures of health.

Effects of Age and Acute Moderate Alcohol Administration on Electrophysiological Correlates of Working Memory Maintenance.

Previous studies suggest older adults may be differentially susceptible to the acute neurobehavioral effects of moderate alcohol intake. To our knowledge, no studies have addressed acute moderate alcohol effects on the electrophysiological correlates of working memory in younger and older social drinkers. This study characterized alcohol-related effects on frontal theta (FTP) and posterior alpha power (PAP) associated with maintenance of visual information during a working memorytask. Older (55 to 70years of age; n=51, 29 women) and younger (25 to 35years of age; n=70, 39 women) community-dwelling moderate drinkers were recruited for this study. Participants were given either placebo or an active dose targeting breath alcohol concentrations (BrACs) of 0.04 or 0.065g/dl. Following absorption, participants completed a visual working memory task assessing cue recognition following a 9-s delay. FTP and PAP were determined via Fourier transformation and subjected to 2 (age group)×3 (dose)×2 (repeated: working memory task condition) mixed models analysis. In addition to expected age-related reductions in PAP, a significant age group×dose interaction was detected for PAP such that 0.04g/dl dose level was associated with greater PAP in younger adults but lower PAP in their older counterparts. PAP was lower in older versus younger adults at both active doses. Further mixed models revealed a significant negative association between PAP and working memory efficiency for older adults. No effects of age, dose, or their interaction were noted for FTP. Results bolster the small but growing body of evidence that older adults exhibit differential sensitivity to the neurobehavioral effects of moderate alcohol use. Given the theoretical role of PAP in attentional and working memory function, these findings shed light on the attentional mechanisms underlying effects of acute moderate alcohol on working memory efficiency in older adults.

Abstract 31: A Multi-ethnic Mendelian Randomization Study of Moderate Alcohol Use and the Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the Women’s Health Initiative

Introduction: Many cohort studies have reported a protective effect of moderate alcohol use (EtOH) on the risk of adverse cardiovascular health outcomes. The exact nature of this association remains unclear in the absence of data from a randomized controlled trial. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the protective effect of moderate EtOH on the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is not causal in nature and tested our hypothesis by conducting a Mendelian randomization study among European, African American, and Hispanic participants in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study. Methods: A total of 154,643 European, African American, and Hispanic post-menopausal women participated in the WHI study. We first used logistic regression to examine the association between EtOH and ASCVD in 8,105 incident ASCVD cases and 63,094 non-cases reporting moderate use at baseline (&gt;0 to 15 drinks / week). ASCVD outcomes included in the case group were adjudicated fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, angina, ischemic stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and carotid artery disease. We adjusted our analysis for baseline covariates including age, self-reported race, BMI, hypertension status, systolic blood pressure, diabetes status, smoking status, physical activity, education, and family income. We then performed an instrumental variable analysis in a subset of 1,888 cases and 9,746 non-cases with GWAS and imputed data available for rs1229984, a polymorphism in ADH1B known to be strongly associated with the degree of lifetime alcohol consumption. Lastly, we assessed whether the instrumental variable assumptions are likely to be satisfied by testing for association between rs1229984 and ASCVD as well as all risk factors for ASCVD in 3,434 WHI participants who reported never using alcohol. Results: Observational analysis confirmed a strong inverse linear association between the degree of moderate alcohol use and the risk of ASCVD even after adjusting for all established risk factors of ASCVD (2.2% reduction in risk per doubling of the no. of drinks/week among moderate EtOH users, p = 3.8 x 10-3). In contrast, our instrumental variable analyses among the subset of subjects with genetic data revealed that moderate alcohol use was associated with a markedly higher risk of ASCVD (47% increase in risk per doubling of EtOH use, p = 4.9 x 10-3). We found rs1229984 to be valid instrument as it was well imputed (mean r2 = 0.74), strongly associated with the degree of moderate alcohol use (F statistic = 44.4), and not associated with ASCVD or any ASCVD risk factor among never drinkers. Conclusions: The observational association between alcohol use and improved cardiovascular health is not causal. Our instrumental variable analysis suggests that alcohol use even among moderate users markedly increases risk of ASCVD in a multi-ethic population of post-menopausal women.

Acute Behavioral and Long-Term Health Effects of Moderate Alcohol Use in Older Adults

This review addresses current literature regarding health consequences associated with of a lifestyle or pattern of moderate drinking and the neurobehavioral effects of moderate drinking episodes in older adults. Discussed studies include both large-scale epidemiological investigations of the effect of moderate alcohol use on multiple health-related domains (e.g., cancer and cardiovascular disease risk) in older adults and laboratory investigations of moderate alcohol’s acute neurobehavioral effects. Numerous studies provide evidence that a pattern of moderate drinking is associated with both potential health benefits and risks for older adults, including evidence for reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline but elevated risk for some cancers, including of the oral cavity, esophagus, and breast. Furthermore, laboratory administration studies indicate that older adults may be more susceptible to neurobehavioral alteration as a result of acute moderate alcohol intake than their younger counterparts. It is clear from the extant literature that even relatively low BACs resulting from the practice of a moderate drinking lifestyle are not without risk. This risk should be balanced against potential benefits at the level of the individual drinker. Additional studies regarding moderate drinking in older adults are needed to address limitations of the literature, including consideration of potential sex effects, inclusion of less rarified samples in acute studies, and the use of longitudinal, prospective designs.

Evaluation of Moderate Alcohol Use With QT Interval and Heart Rate Using Mendelian Randomization Analysis Among Older Southern Chinese Men in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.

Western observational studies show that moderate alcohol use is associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but these associations may be confounded by the healthier attributes of moderate users in these settings. Mendelian randomization analysis may help to ascertain the causal effect of moderate alcohol use on specific factors related to CVD and thereby clarify the role of alcohol. We used Mendelian randomization analysis with the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene (ALDH2) as an instrumental variable to examine the association of alcohol units (10 g of ethanol) per day with heart rate-corrected QT interval and heart rate assessed from electrocardiogram among 4,588 older southern Chinese men in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (2003-2008). The F statistic was 77 for ALDH2 on alcohol use, suggesting little weak-instrument bias. Instrumental variable analysis showed that alcohol units were not associated with the corrected QT interval, with β = 1.04 (95% confidence interval: -0.61, 2.70) milliseconds, but they were associated with increased heart rate, with β = 0.98 (95% confidence interval: 0.04, 1.92) beat per minute. This study suggests that moderate alcohol use in men is not beneficial for heart function via QT interval or heart rate but could be detrimental. Future studies using specific cardiovascular outcomes may elucidate how alcohol affects different aspects of the cardiovascular system and, hence, the overall effects of alcohol on CVD can be estimated.

The association between alcohol use and long-term care placement among older Canadians: A 14-year population-based study

Studies have shown that moderate alcohol use confers protection against some of the dominant predictors of long-term care placement, including diminished cognitive functioning, physical disability, and injury. But little is known about the association between alcohol use and the likelihood of placement in long-term care facilities. A nationally representative sample of 5404 community-dwelling Canadians ages 50years and older at baseline (1994/95) was obtained from the longitudinal National Population Health Survey. Alcohol use categories were developed based on the quantity and frequency of use in the 12months before the interview. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association between alcohol use at baseline and subsequent placement in long-term care facilities after adjusting for covariates measured at baseline. During the 14-year follow-up period, 14% of lifetime abstainers, 10% of former drinkers, 7% of infrequent drinkers, 4% of moderate drinkers, and 3% of heavy drinkers were placed in long-term care facilities. Furthermore, the multivariate analysis revealed that abstainers, former drinkers, and infrequent drinkers were more than twice as likely to be placed in long-term care as moderate drinkers. Moderate drinking was protective against placement in long-term care facilities even after adjusting for an array of well-known confounders. The strong protective effect of moderate alcohol use on long-term care entry is likely due to a complex mix of physical, cognitive and psychosocial health factors.

Impacts of alcohol duty reductions on cardiovascular mortality among elderly Chinese: a 10-year time series analysis

BackgroundIn March 2007, the Hong Kong Government halved its heavy excise taxes on beer and wine, and 1 year later, it eliminated all duties on these beverages. This study examines...

Drinking Patterns Linked to Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Certain patterns of alcohol consumption appear detrimental to older adults’ cognitive health, according to a pair of longitudinal cohort studies. In a study of older women, moderate drinking at a mean age of 81 years and initiation of drinking after a mean age of 68 years increased the odds of cognitive impairment. In a study of older men and women, those consuming large amounts of alcohol in a single sitting, socalled binge drinking, were more likely to be in the top decile of cognitive decline over time. These new fi ndings call into question what constitutes risky drinking in older adults and conventional practices of risk assessment, investigators reported at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2012.

2920 – Moderate drinking: reducing type 2 diabetes risk or just providing a free road for the disease development? A review of reviews

To date, the effect of alcohol on type 2 diabetes risk remains controversial. This present review is conducted on reviews to ascertain the present trend, views, and problems resulting to these controversies. Howard et al. (2004) noted that 1–3 standard drinks per day reduce the risk of diabetes by 33–56%. By drinking more than 3 drinks per day, the risk increased by 43%. Seike et al. (2008) and Evans et al. (2008) found inconsistencies in the relationship for different studies. Koppes et al. (2005) and Baliunas et al. (2009) found a U-shaped relationship. In conclusion, data on the effect of moderate alcohol use on type 2 diabetes risk remains inconclusive, partly due to the structure and design of studies, differences in body mass index of participants, gender/age differences, genetic differences and predisposition for alcohol problems and diabetes, duration/quantity ranking criteria for alcohol use, comorbid conditions. Other problems found across studies were differences in the definition of diabetes used in the various study designs, definition of standard drinks. There is need for more up-to-date and accurate evidence based approach, putting into consideration all the stated problems that hamper conclusion in studies of alcohol's effect on type 2 diabetes risk.

Evaluation of Moderate Alcohol Use and Cognitive Function Among Men Using a Mendelian Randomization Design in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

Observational studies usually show that moderate alcohol use is associated with better cognitive function. Such studies are vulnerable to residual confounding arising from systematic differences between moderate alcohol users and others. A Mendelian randomization study carried out in a suitable population, such as southern Chinese men, in which alcohol use is low to moderate and is influenced by genotype, offers an alternative and superior approach for clarifying the causal effect of moderate alcohol use on cognitive function. The authors used aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) genotype (AA, GA, or GG) as an instrumental variable in 2-stage least squares analysis to obtain unbiased estimates of the relation of alcohol consumption (measured in alcohol units (10 g ethanol) per day) with cognitive function, assessed from delayed 10-word recall score (n = 4,707) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (n = 2,284), among men from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (2003-2008). ALHD2 genotype was strongly associated with alcohol consumption, with an F statistic of 71.0 in 2-stage least squares analysis. Alcohol consumption was not associated with delayed 10-word recall score (-0.03 words per alcohol unit, 95% confidence interval: -0.18, 0.13) or MMSE score (0.06 points per alcohol unit, 95% confidence interval: -0.22, 0.34). Moderate alcohol use is unlikely to be cognitively protective.

What place, if any, does information on putative cardioprotective effects of moderate alcohol use have in safer drinking guidelines?

The majority view among alcohol epidemiologists is that the lower coronary heart disease mortality observed in moderate drinkers is probably evidence for a protective effect of moderate drinking. In this paper I critically discuss the debate about what type of information, if any, should be provided to the public about the putative coronary heart disease benefits of moderate alcohol use. Most opposition to informing the public about these putative benefits is based on the fear that such advice will increase per capita alcohol consumption and therefore alcohol-related harm. It is unclear how well-based these concerns are. In the interim, the alcohol industry has communicated these putative benefits to the public. There is a case for including some information on these putative benefits in specific safer drinking guidelines for middle-aged and older drinkers that: clearly conveys the remaining uncertainty about the benefits of moderate drinking, emphasises the conditional nature of any such benefits, and stresses the need to balance the potential benefits against the increased sensitivity of older adults to other adverse effects of alcohol, and the increased risk of interactions between alcohol and other medications used by older adults.

Effect of alcohol consumption on biological markers associated with risk of coronary heart disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies

Objective To systematically review interventional studies of the effects of alcohol consumption on 21 biological markers associated with risk of coronary heart disease in adults without known cardiovascular disease.Design Systematic...