A new study has found that even one alcoholic drink a day could increase the risk of heart disease, contradicting previous claims that low to moderate alcohol consumption has a protective effect. The research, published in the BMJ, analysed data from over 260,000 participants across 56 studies and found that light drinkers can reduce their risk of coronary heart disease and lower blood pressure by cutting down.
Professor Juan Casas of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who led the study, said the message is clear: the less you drink, the better. “The best thing to do is to reduce consumption to reduce blood pressure and risk of heart disease,” he said. The study used a genetic variant that causes unpleasant symptoms when drinking alcohol, leading carriers to drink less. These individuals had a 10% lower risk of coronary heart disease, lower blood pressure, and a lower body mass index.
Previous studies may have been misleading because they did not account for other healthy behaviours often associated with light drinking, such as physical activity and better diet. Additionally, people who abstain due to illness were included in the teetotal category, making non-drinkers appear at higher risk. The study was funded by the British Heart Foundation and the Medical Research Council.
Dr Shannon Amoils of the British Heart Foundation noted that studies on alcohol are difficult because they rely on self-reported drinking habits. The genetic approach helps overcome this. However, Professor Tim Spector of King's College London cautioned that the gene for alcohol intolerance might be linked to other unmeasured factors that reduce heart disease risk.
