Alcohol Cuts Heart Risks
(Straits Times Online) PARIS – MEN who drink alcohol every day see a nearly one-third average reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease, according to a long-term study among Spanish men published on Thursday.
The research unfolded over a decade among more than 41,000 men and women aged between 29 and 69, who were assessed for their health and lifestyle as part of a European probe into cancer.
During the course of the study, 609 cases of heart attacks and other ‘coronary events’ happened, 481 among men and 128 among women. Among men, those drinking moderate, high and very high levels of alcohol all had a lower risk of coronary heart disease compared with non-drinkers.
For those classified as former drinkers, the risk was 10 per cent lower; for those drinking little (0.5 grammes of alcohol per day), the risk was 35 per cent; for moderate drinkers (five-30 grammes per day), the risk was 54 per cent lower; and for high (30-90 grammes per day) and very high drinkers (more than 90 grammes per day) it was halved.
By way of comparison, a 285ml glass of heavy beer containing 4.9 per cent of alcohol amounts to 11 grammes, while a 180ml glass of wine with 12 per cent alcohol has 17.06 grammes.
Women also benefitted from alcohol intake, but the effects were not statistically significant, possibly due to lower numbers of ‘coronary events’ in that group. — AFP
(Beerbeer) – For those who find excuse to drink alcohol, here another one. But as we always let everyone know, alcohol is not a drink to boost health, unless all of us really can drink moderately every time we consume it… haha
