*
*
How Much Alcohol is Good for Your Heart?
Don’t drink at all and miss out on the benefits; drink too much and you
could pay
May 19, 2011 | By Emily
Norris<http://www.peakhealthadvocate.com/author/emily-norris/>,
Contributing Editor, Peak Health Advocate
[image: Wine Toast]Isn’t it great when scientists tell us that the “bad
stuff” most of us enjoy might actually be good for us? For instance, chocolate
can help us get our cholesterol under
control<http://www.peakhealthadvocate.com/1061/chocolate-shown-to-improve-cholesterol-levels-naturally-in-high-risk-adults/>,
we can still eat carbs and lose
weight<http://www.peakhealthadvocate.com/895/weight-loss-may-have-to-do-with-when-you-eat-carbohydrates/>,
our morning cup of coffee could help prevent a
stroke<http://www.peakhealthadvocate.com/719/3-surprising-health-benefits-of-coffee/>,
and a little sun worship may protect us as we
age<http://www.peakhealthadvocate.com/938/vitamin-d-deficiency-reduces-bone-and-muscle-health/>
.
And you’ve probably heard the benefits of red
wine<http://www.peakhealthadvocate.com/745/health-benefits-of-red-wine-antioxidant-resveratrol/>touted.
That’s because red wine contains a powerful antioxidant known as
resveratrol, which has been associated with lower incidences of cancer and
cardiovascular disease, as well as cholesterol-lowering and
anti-inflammatory properties.
Over the years, numerous studies have been conducted on the potential
benefits of alcohol consumption. In “Alcohol and the Heart: An Ounce of
Prevention,” published online this month by the journal, *Current Treatment
Options in Cardiovascular Medicine*, the authors reviewed a wealth of
research dealing with alcohol’s effect, particularly on the cardiovascular
system.[1]
While many positive benefits were associated with alcohol, which we will
cover in a moment, a common theme emerged with regard to the *amount *of
alcohol consumed, leading the authors to point out that the challenge here
might be in recommending the “right doses.” You see, just like a little
alcohol may help to mend a broken heart, drink too much of it and it has
quite a different (and potentially dangerous) effect.
As we go through the alcohol-related research, keep in mind that while the
definition of what constitutes a “light,” “moderate” or “heavy” drinker may
vary slightly from study to study, in general, “one drink” refers to a
12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor
(either straight up or in a mixed drink).
Alcohol and Cholesterol
Alcohol has been linked to several well-known changes in lipoproteins, and
moderate alcohol intake has been associated with reduced LDL (“bad”)
cholesterol and increased HDL (“good”) cholesterol. In fact, one study
showed that one to two drinks per day increased HDL by 12% on average, which
is similar to the increase seen with exercise programs and fibric acid
medications.
This is especially good news when you consider that a separate study
estimated that about half of the decrease in coronary heart disease risk may
be attributed to an increase in plasma HDL, while only 20% was attributed to
a reduction in plasma LDL. (See 4 Ways to Raise Your Good Cholesterol
Naturally<http://www.peakhealthadvocate.com/918/lifestyle-changes-can-raise-hdl-cholesterol-over-long-term/>
.)
Alcohol and Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a serious disease in which the heart muscle becomes
inflamed and doesn’t work as it should, and among other things, it can be
brought on by prolonged heavy drinking (5-15 years). However, research
suggests that moderate alcohol intake could have the opposite effect. One
study reported a 59% lower risk of heart failure among men who consumed 8-14
drinks per week compared to those who didn’t drink. (Sorry, ladies, no
statistically significant association was observed in women.) In another
study, adults age 65 years or older who consumed 7-13 drinks per week had a
34% lower risk of heart failure.
Alcohol and Sudden Cardiac Death
Moderate alcohol intake has also been associated with a decrease in sudden
cardiac death in healthy adults. In a study of 85,067 women without reported
cardiovascular disease, light-to-moderate intake of alcohol was associated
with a 36% lower risk of sudden cardiac death as compared to those who
abstained from alcohol.
And a study of 22,071 apparently healthy male physicians showed that men who
consumed light-to-moderate amounts of alcohol (two to six drinks per week)
had up to an 80% lower risk of sudden cardiac death compared to
non-drinkers.
This is great news for the occasional drinker, but here’s a scary
finding: *When
it comes to people who drank more than six alcoholic beverages a day, the
risk of sudden death was increased more than twofold.*
Alcohol and Coronary Artery Disease
According to the authors, research over the past 30 years has consistently
shown the protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on fatal and
non-fatal coronary artery disease (CAD). However, some studies show a
protective effect at moderate levels and increasing mortality at higher
levels, while others show that protection does not decrease with heavy
drinking (more than four to five drinks per day).
Here, drinking frequency may be more important than quantity. One study
showed a similar risk of incidence of CAD in men who drank as much as three
to four drinks per day if they consistently drank over five to seven days
per week and in light drinkers (one drink per day) as long as it was spread
over seven days.
The cardio-protective benefits were similar in women, with the caveat being
that heavy drinking had a negative impact. For women, the benefits became
muted after two drinks per day and became a statistically significant risk
factor after four to five drinks per day, regardless of days spent drinking
each week.
It does seem as though women get the short end of the stick when it comes to
the heart benefits of alcohol, and researchers have developed theories
around this, including that women are more susceptible to cirrhosis than
men, and this can lead to decreased levels of HDL.
So far we’ve discussed the effects of alcohol on healthy adults, but are
there also benefits for those who already have coronary artery disease or
CAD risk factors?
Studies showed a statistically significant reduction (15%-25%) of all-cause
mortality for subjects with pre-existing CAD who drank moderately, relative
to non-drinkers. And researchers who analyzed data from the US Cancer
Prevention II Study involving 490,000 men and women, found that regular
drinkers with cardiovascular-related conditions (CAD, stroke, diabetes,
hypertension) had a greater reduction in CAD mortality versus a similar
group of non-drinkers.
The Good and Bad News
So it seems we can confidently say that research points to the protective
heart benefits of moderate drinking, especially for men. To sum up, the
authors concluded: “From available studies, the majority of evidence
indicates that moderate alcohol consumption (typically defined as <30 g of
ethanol or less than 2 drinks per day) does provide an all-cause mortality
benefit. Specifically, a moderate level of alcohol intake has been
associated with decreased CAD-associated mortality in patients with
pre-existing CAD or CAD risk-factors, regardless of gender. Likewise, there
is a decreased risk of heart failure, sudden cardiac death, and an improved
lipid profile with increased HDL and decreased LDL in adults who drink
moderate amounts of alcohol.
Now the bad news …
The authors also were careful to point out the risks of alcohol, which
include greater incidence of ear, nose and throat cancer, and colorectal
cancer at moderate levels, and cirrhosis even at light levels. Furthermore,
heavy drinking has been linked with alcoholic cardiomyopathy, atrial
fibrillation, blood pressure elevation and, as we mentioned, more than a
twofold increase in sudden cardiac death.
So, as with most things in life, it would seem that moderation is the key.
