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A GLASS OR two of booze is good for your heart, according to long-standing medical advice that drinkers are often fond of citing.
But, according to a new study, this cherished invitation to say “cheers” is well off the mark.
Reducing even light consumption of alcohol will not only improve your chances against coronary heart disease, but also help you lose weight and ease high blood pressure, it said.
Writing in the British Medical Journal, researchers carried out an overview of 50 published studies into the drinking habits and health of more than 260,000 people of European descent.
They looked especially at those with a key variant of a gene called ADH1B.
Previous research has found that a single change in the DNA code in this gene makes people less sensitive to drink, and thus less at risk from alcoholism.
The new study discovered that individuals with the variant drank 17% fewer units of alcohol per week and were 78% less likely to binge drink than those without it.
They also had a 10% lower risk of coronary heart disease and enjoyed lower systolic blood pressure and body mass index (BMI).
“This suggests that reduction of alcohol consumption, even for light to moderate drinkers, is beneficial for cardiovascular health,” the study contended.
Juan Casas, a professor of epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who led the probe, said a decades-long belief in health benefits from light-to-moderate drinking may have been flawed.
“We now have evidence that some of these studies suffer from limitations that may affect the validity of their findings,” he said in a press release.
In our study, we saw a link between a reduced consumption of alcohol and improved cardiovascular health, regardless of whether the individual was a light, moderate or heavy drinker.
Assuming the association is causal, it appears that even if you’re a light drinker, reducing your alcohol consumption could be beneficial for your heart.
Hard to extrapolate
Independent commentators said the study was interesting, not least because it challenged what is now almost a dogma.
But, they cautioned, the debate was far from over.
They noted the study was based only a statistical approach — it was not designed to explore exactly why those with the ADH1B variant were healthier.
There could be causes that apply only to them, and not people without the variant, which makes general advice on drinking a risky business.
“People with genes for alcohol intolerance may… have other unmeasured behaviours or traits that reduce heart disease,” Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, told Britain’s Science Media Centre.
A good example might be if they also had different gut microbes which prevented heart disease.
Light-to-moderate drinking is generally considered to be consumption of between 12 and 25 alcoholic units per week.
By way of comparison, a half pint of beer with 5% alcohol content has 1.6 alcoholic units, and a small 125ml glass of wine with 12% alcohol content carries 1.5 units.
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Best of luck Sarah, I’m training for my first marathon in Barcelona in March, coming from being 3 stone over weight 2 years ago to completing 3 half’s this year and 2 adventure races. It proves anyone can do it if they really want it.
Go on Sarah,you can do it. What a great story,brilliant piece.
Good luck – enjoy the race
It’s not a race it’s a marathon
Thanks for pointing that out, Alan – I see what you mean, it’s not that you’re competing against anyone else, the real goal is reaching the finish line.
Exactly Martin you’re not gona beat the Kenyans
It’s a race against the mind!!
Good luck!
Remember it’s the pace that kills, never the distance. the post race beers are my motivation! ! ☺
You are a bona fide runner already. The medal has already been earned, now you’re just collecting it. I trained for DCM last year, stress fractured 3 weeks before so let that go & completed my first marathon, Cork in June of last year. Fantastic trainer in my dad so the above all rang true for me too. Have a brilliant day!
Best of luck,Sarah.just remember don’t go off too fast.Enjoy & soak up the atmosphere …
Best of Luck Sarah. Keep at your own pace. Its hard to remember that in a throng of people and the adrenaline. Careful with those gels. If youre not used to them they can play havoc with your stomach. Bananas way better. Enjoy that medal!
Great story, all of it spot on. “Will I still be running after 7 hours???” No you won’t and all your training will stand to you! The cheerleaders and spectators will help so much, especially in those last 6 miles!!!
Lovely article Sarah. All emosh here. We will join the cheerleading squad.
Lovely article. Best of luck
Good for you Sarah, you’ll have a great run the hard work is done, let Dublin be the first of more marathons. Enjoy!
Just a tip to any first timers. If using a sat nav watch, turn it on for a signal before you go into the starting crowd. Good luck to Sarah and all the other runners, it’s a fab experience and the support is superb. Oh and the post marathon pints are the sweetest drinks you ll ever taste!!
Best of luck to everyone running the DCM tomorrow.
Sarah, leave the headphones at home and soak up the atmosphere.Nothing can beat the shouts of encouragement from the crowd especially during those final few miles
Some people need music, each to their own
Best of luck Sarah love from all your strickly team. Pauline Halpin
Best of luck Sarah! (And to everyone running the marathon!)Great article.
Your amazing Sarah!!!!!!!!!! Best of luck Tomoro xxxx
You don’t respect F1 drivers? You clearly know nothing of the force there bodies take whilst racing.
Best of luck Sarah.. No respect for F1!
Ah just get on with it.
Best of luck Sarah , those last 2-3 miles coming to the finishing stretch are unreal!
Great article ! From one first time marathon to another, you have articulated exactly my own thoughts and feelings today … day before the marathon!! Lovely piece! Best of luck tomorrow Sarah, we’ve got this in the bag!
Good luck tomorrow Sarah, lovely article, let us know how got on- after you’ve recovered of course!
Look at the people cheering you on from the sidelines-most of them wish they could do what you are doing-smile at them-enjoy it-go slow at the start-keep smiling
Funny as always Sarah! Well done and best of luck!
Best of Luck Sarah
That’s a really lovely piece of writing. Hope it went well, Sarah!
Best of Luck Sarah
Best of Luck Sarah
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