Could drinking alcohol reduce heart risk?

Drinking alcohol to reduce heart risk?

A Spanish study suggests that drinking any amounts of alcohol daily may reduce risk of heart disease in men, but not women. Spain is the sixth largest producer of alcoholic beverages.

The common belief based on some evidence is that drinking in moderation, one drink for women and two drinks for men, helps cut heart risk. But the current study found moderate, high and very high amounts of alcohol were associated with reduced risk of heart disease.

The study released in the British Medical Journal surveyed alcohol intake of 15,500 men and 26,000 women aged 29 to 69 in the preceding year. The subjects were asked to report their drinking habits and then followed for 10 years to record coronary heart disease.

Overall, men who drank alcohol were at 30 percent reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared to those who did not drink. And the more alcohol they drank, the lower risk they faced. But no association between drinking alcohol and heart disease was not found in women.

The study drew criticism and some researchers who were not involved in the research claimed that the study had several flaws.

Robert Sutton, professor of surgery at the University of Liverpool was quoted by Reuters as saying "This ... study was based on self-reported information in which those drinking more stated they had less heart disease, but those drinking more would probably be less likely to see doctors and have heart disease identified."

The study is not a trial. There is a good possibility that healthy people are more likely than sick people to drink alcohol and drinking alcohol does not neccessarily result in good health.

Critics have said that some early studies that linked alcohol drinking to lower risk of heart disease are flawed because researchers classified those who quit drinking because of their health conditions as non-drinkers.

Alcoholic beverages are officially recognized by the U.S. federal government as a cancer-causing agent, meaning drinking alcohol can raise cancer risk. One typical example is that alcohol raises breast cancer risk.

A study reported in the May 1 2009 issue of American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that drinking too much alcohol may also increase risk of pancreatic cancer.

Heavy alcohol drinkers were 45 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer and heavy liquor drinkers were 62 percent more likely to be diagnosed with the disease compared to those who drank lightly or less than 1 drink per day. Heavy drinkers were those who drank 3 or more cups or 40 or more grams of alcohol each day.

Aldehyde converted from alcohol causes cancer, studies have already found. Drinking alcohol has also associated with liver damage,and brain shrinkage among other things.

American Heart Association warned people not to start drinking alcohol if they do not drink. For those who have started drinking, they should drink in moderation.

"This means an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. A drink is one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits," say the AHA says.

A scientist who is affiliated with foodconsumer.org suggests that those who have drinking problems should quit drinking alcohol. If help is needed, he or she may attend some alcohol rehab programs. Occasionally drinking may be okay, but a long-term habit can cause health problem.