1. Home>
2. Specialties>
3. Cardiology>
4. Summary and Comment

Alcohol: How Much, How Often for Heart Benefits?

Some interesting observations about drinking and risk for myocardial infarction ...

Moderate alcohol consumption has been linked with protection against heart disease. To assess what drinking habits are most beneficial, investigators analyzed questionnaire data from the 12-year, prospective Health Professionals Follow-Up Study of 51,529 men. They excluded participants with vascular disease or cancer at baseline, those with missing or unusable data, and those who had quit drinking in the preceding 10 years.

Among the remaining 38,077 men, progressively higher levels of alcohol consumption were positively associated with smoking, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Beginning at a level of 5.0-9.9 g/day, amount of alcohol consumption was inversely related to risk for MI (light drinkers [0.1-4.9 g/day] had a risk similar to that of nondrinkers). Drinking frequency also was inversely related to MI risk, even after adjustment for the amount of alcohol consumed, with benefits starting at 3-4 drinks/week; this relation was consistent across alcohol types, although beer consumption had the strongest link with reduced risk. Drinking with meals did not add or diminish benefit. Men who reduced their alcohol consumption over time appeared to experience an increase in MI risk.

Comment: This observational study provides some insights about drinking and heart disease in men. Both the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption were strongly and inversely associated with MI risk. Light drinking appeared to confer no benefit. Though interesting, the data are observational and, therefore, inadequate as a basis for a national policy encouraging nondrinkers to start drinking for cardiac benefits.

— Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

Published in Journal Watch Cardiology February 28, 2003

Citation(s):

Mukamal KJ et al. Roles of drinking pattern and type of alcohol consumed in coronary heart disease in men. N Engl J Med 2003 Jan 9; 348:109-18.

• Original article (Subscription may be required)
• Medline abstract (Free)

Goldberg IJ. To drink or not to drink? N Engl J Med 2003 Jan 9; 348:163-4.

• Original article (Subscription may be required)
• Medline abstract (Free)