It’s often said that drinking wine in moderation can be good for your health.  But now new research being presented today, Sunday, Nov. 13, at 3pm ET in a poster presentation at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, Louisiana, indicates that drinking beer may also be good for your health. 

Researchers followed over 80,000 participants for six years and found that while HDL, or the so-called good cholesterol, declined over time, those who drank beer had a slower decrease in HDL, therefore a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases. This particular study was conducted in China, but previous studies suggest that other populations would experience a similar effect.  

The facts: 

Moderate drinkers (Men: 1-2 servings/day; women:0.5-1.0 servings/day) had the slowest decline 

Beer consumption had a positive effect on HDL levels even among heavy drinkers, but for hard liquor only light (men: <1 servings/day, women: 0-0.4 servings/day) to moderate drinking was beneficial. (not enough wine drinkers to test the effects on HDL) 

These effects were still present when the analysis was restricted to people without diabetes, hypertension, obesity, fatty liver, and elevated inflammation status. 

Joslyn Neiderer 

Writer/Editor, News and Media Relations

Penn State

Strategic Communications

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