Drinking and coronary artery disease risk are related. The evidence clearly shows that moderate drinking of alcohol leads to lower risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). That’s one of the reasons it tends to lead to longer life.
Beer, wine and distilled spirits (liquor) appear to have the same health benefits.
The Study
CAD is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the US. Another common name for CAD is heart disease.
Researchers studied the effect of moderate drinking on the risk of CAD. Theynused US veterans. To do so, they used self‐reported alcohol consumption from Million Veteran Program participants. The number totaled 156,728. Their mean age was 65.3 years and 91% were men.
The mean follow‐up period was 2.9 years. During that time, there were 6,153 CAD events. Researchers adjusted for age, body mass index, education, exercise, gender, race, and smoking.
Findings
Compared with never drinkers,
- Former drinkers had a 2% increased risk of CAD.
- Current drinkers of under 1/2 glass per day had a 17% lower risk.
- Drinkers of 1/2 to one drink per day had a 23% reduced risk.
- Those who had one to two drinks per day had a 29% lower risk.
- Drinkers having two to three drinks daily had a 38% reduced risk.
- Consumers of three to four drinks a day had a 42% lower risk.
- Drinkers consuming over four drinks each day had a 5% reduced risk.
Thus, even those who consumed over four drinks each day had a lower risk of CAD than life-long abstainers.
The researchers also compared those drinking three or more days per week with those drinking one or fewer days weekly. At any level of consumption, frequent drinkers had lower risk of CAD. Whether veterans drank beer, wine, or spirits had no impact on the findings.1
You may be interested in these.
CVD = cardiovascular disease
- Effects of Alcohol on Risk of Strokes and Heart Attacks.
- Moderate Drinking Reduces Heart and Circulation Diseases.
- Alcohol and CVD.
- Lifestyle, CVD & Death.
- Cardiovascular Health Benefitted from Drinking Over Guidelines.
- Drinking Alcohol and Death in CVD Patients.
- Drinking Alcohol and Risk of CVD Death.
- Alcohol and Cardiovascular Health.
- Alcohol and CVD. Moderate Drinking is Protective.
- Drinking Alcohol, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Health, and Death.
Resources: Drinking and Coronary Artery Disease
Videos
- A.D.A.M.. Coronary Artery Disease.
- Emery, T. Heart Disease.
- Kritchmar, P., et al. Coronary Artery Disease.
Footnote
- Song, R., et al. Alcohol consumption and risk of coronary artery disease (from the Million Veteran Program), J Card, 121.
Note
- This site gives no advice. Please see your doctor with questions.