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It is now widely accepted that moderate (low-risk)
consumption of alcohol can offer potential beneficial health effects,
especially associated with protection against cardio-vascular disease.
However, there is still much confusion as to what exactly
the potential beneficial health effects of alcohol are, and importantly,
which type of drink is best.
Three recent, significant publications based on comprehensive
reviews of the best available evidence, by Australia’s top alcohol,
health and medical bodies (National Health and Medical Research Council,
National Expert Advisory Committee on Alcohol, Commonwealth Department
of Health and Aged Care) have found the following potential beneficial
health effects of moderate alcohol consumption. Furthermore, they have
all convincingly found that these benefits are linked with all
types of beverage alcohol – spirits, beer and wine –
not just red wine as is commonly misperceived.
Of course, excessive or higher-risk levels of consumption
not only nullify these potential beneficial health effects, but also increase
both short-term risk of harm or injury, and longer-term health risks,
and should therefore be avoided. The National Health and Medical Research
Council also recommend that ‘people who choose not to drink alcohol
should not be urged to drink to gain any potential health benefit and
should be supported in their decision not to drink’.
For more information on moderate, low-risk levels of consumption,
see Australian
Drinking Guidelines.
What are the Beneficial
Health Effects of Alcohol?
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General
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‘…people who
drink small quantities have better health outcomes than those who
do not drink, although abstainers achieve very much better health
outcomes than heavy drinkers.’ (NHMRC, p.31) |
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Heart Disease
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‘Alcohol appears to
be protective against ischaemic heart disease in middle-aged and older
men and women. Although the protective effect extends across the continuum
of alcohol consumption, most, if not all, of the reduction in risk
is realised with low to moderate levels of consumption.’ (Dept.
Hlth p.10) |
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‘There is compelling evidence
from an increasing body of research that suggests that light to moderate
alcohol consumption in middle-aged or elderly populations is associated
with decreased mortality from cardiovascular disease. Some studies
have found that the consumption of small to moderate amounts of alcohol
may reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease by between one third
and one half.’ (NEACA, p.16) |
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Stroke
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‘The weight of evidence suggests
that low level alcohol consumption may offer some protection against
stroke, apparently by reducing the risk of ischaemic stroke.’
(Dept. Hlth, p.39) (NHMRC, p.70) |
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Diabetes
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‘…there is growing evidence
from cohort studies that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the
risk of diabetes.’ (Dept. Hlth p.40) (NHMRC
p.80) |
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Gallstones
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‘…the conclusion of the Australian
meta-analysis is further strengthened by recently reported findings
from a large cohort that frequent and moderate alcohol consumption
provides protection against gallstones.’ (Dept.
Hlth p.41) (NHMRC p.80) |
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Bone Density
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‘The development of bone mineral
density has been reported to be significantly and positively associated
with social drinking.’ (NEACA, p.16) |
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Cognitive Benefits
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‘Trying to weigh the evidence together, one may tentatively
conclude that cognitive decline in older people may be reduced by
light to moderate drinking (up to two drinks per day). However,
better control for confounders like education or social adjustment
is necessary before coming to more definitive conclusions.’
(Dept. Hlth p.42) (NHMRC, p.79)
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Which Types of Alcohol Drinks Confer these Health Benefits?
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‘The (cardiovascular)
benefits appear to be linked with all types of alcoholic drinks, contrary
to the widely held view that such benefits accrue only to red wine
drinkers.’ (NEACA, p.16) |
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‘Despite attempts by
many investigators to identify differences in the effects of different
drinks, relatively few studies have actually found such differences,
in relation to either the benefits or the harms of alcohol.’ (NHMRC,
p.44) |
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‘Overall, the degree of protection
that alcohol confers against heart disease from middle age onwards
appears to be common to all types of drink, and results from the alcohol
content.’ (NHMRC, p.44) |
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‘…these (protective) effects
are similar for beer, wine and spirits.’ (Dept.
Hlth, p.46) |
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‘The ischaemic heart disease benefit
is largely, if not wholly, attributable to ethanol per
se, and not to other constituents of particular beverages.’
(Dept. Hlth, p.37) |
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‘It has been argued that red wine
has a particularly protective effect against heart disease, but the
literature in general does not support this.’ (NHMRC,
p.44) |
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‘Some have argued that particular
protection against ischaemic heart disease may be conferred by the
consumption of wine. However, in an extensive review of the literature,
it was concluded that a substantial portion of the benefit is derived
from alcohol rather than other components of each type of drink.’
(Dept. Hlth, p.36) |
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‘Most of the protective effect
(from heart disease) appears to arise from the ethanol component of
alcoholic beverages and not from other components. If specific beverages,
such as red wine, do confer additional benefit, this effect is small.’
(Dept. Hlth, p.10) |
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‘It can be concluded that any
additional effect from wine is very small compared to the ethanol
effect, and may not be relevant on a public health level.’ (Dept.
Hlth, p.37) |
See also: Distilled
Spirits Council of the United States – Potential Health Benefits
References:
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