You may have heard that there are health benefits associated with alcohol consumption. Based on research demonstrating the advantages of moderate alcohol consumption for health, some physicians may even suggest having a glass of wine every now and then. However, it appears that we may have come to the incorrect conclusion as a group from a number of studies, since a recent study revealed a serious issue.
After examining 107 papers pertaining to drinking patterns and longevity, Canadian scientists found a significant problem. These studies frequently compare two sets of individuals. Regarding alcohol intake, there are those who drink and those who either abstain or use very little of it. The trouble with the second group, though, is that it may include formerly heavy drinkers who stopped along the road for a variety of reasons, such as health problems.
Because of this, those who abstain or drink in moderation may experience health problems that are directly linked to their past alcohol consumption, thereby shortening their life expectancy. However, they would be classified as nondrinkers for the purposes of those research.
Theoretically, the group of light and nondrinkers ought to be healthier than the group of drinkers. Examining numerous older studies will show that this is untrue.
Former drinkers make up the group of people who either don’t drink at all or drink very little. Consequently, this has a detrimental influence on this group’s average health, giving the impression that moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial.
Dr. Tim Stockwell told The Guardian that the alcohol industry’s claim that moderate alcohol consumption lengthens lives is a propaganda move. “The concept has hindered effective policymaking on alcohol and public health, impacted national drinking guidelines, and affected estimates of alcohol’s global burden of disease.”
When Stockwell and his colleagues first examined the data, they did not question the caliber of the nondrinkers’ group. When compared to abstainers, light to moderate drinkers appeared to have a 14% lower chance of passing away, according to the combined data. Those who drink in moderation to a modest degree typically have one to two drinks each day.
Subsequently, they began contrasting the two groups’ quality in these investigations. Younger participants were included in the best-quality studies. Additionally, those documents made sure that past and infrequent drinkers weren’t written off as non-drinkers. Those studies came to entirely different results. There was no proof that individuals who drank alcohol in moderation would live longer than those who did not.
The only research that found health benefits for moderate alcohol usage were those that did not distinguish the group of abstainers from the former drinkers.
Stockwell went on to say that in the biased studies, the people who were well enough to continue drinking appeared healthier since the people who gave up alcohol for health-related reasons were also included in the group of abstainers.
Adults in the UK are advised not to consume more than 14 units of alcohol per week in order to lower risk, according to The Guardian. One unit is half a pint of beer, while 1.5 units are equal to 125ml (4.40 fl oz) of wine.
If you do a fast search for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US, you’ll find that moderate drinking is defined as one drink for women and two drinks or fewer for men each day.
The CDC does note that drinking alcohol will never improve your health, though. The organization cites current research showing that, in comparison to abstaining from alcohol, even moderate drinking raises the risk of death and chronic illnesses including cancer and heart disease.
You may wish to direct your doctor to the complete study available in the National Library of Medicine the next time they suggest that you should have a glass of wine.
