Light to moderate drinking: Likely cardioprotective, but recommended?

It's time to acknowledge the pile of evidence that light to moderate alcohol consumption is not only good for cardiovascular health, it could potentially be recommended for CV risk reduction, according to authors of two meta-analyses published online February 22, 2011 in BMJ.

An analysis of prospective cohort studies showing alcohol effects on cardiovascular end points, with first author Dr Paul E Ronksley (University of Calgary, AB), suggested that most any level of alcohol intake is protective against CV mortality, incident CHD, and CHD mortality, while intake of up to one drink per day is protective against incident stroke and stroke mortality. The findings are consistent with a vast evidence base linking light to moderate alcohol intake with reduced CV risk.

The other report focused on clinical intervention studies of alcohol effects on biomarkers associated with CV disease and concluded that moderate intake raises levels of HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, and adiponectin and reduces fibrinogen levels. In their analysis, Dr Susan E Brien (University of Calgary) et al defined moderate alcohol intake as up to a drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

Although observational studies can't establish cause and effect, the group observes, together the two reports make a compelling case for alcohol as an actual cause of the reduced CV risk long associated with light to moderate drinking.