Heart attack not a deterrent to moderate drinking
the UK's binge drinking culture, new research suggests that
drinking less than ten alcoholic beverages a week does not increase
the risk of heart failure in patients who've had a heart attack.
However, the research, carried out by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, could not qualify whether it is safe to consume more than this amount.
Dr. David Aguilar, of the University of Texas, headed the investigation with over 2,200 particpants in the Survival And Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) trial. All the patients studied had experienced a heart attack and were considered at risk of future heart failure.
Based on their alcohol intake, the subjects were classified as nondrinkers, light-to-moderate drinkers (up to ten drinks per week), or heavy drinkers (more than ten drinks per week).
"There was no evidence shown that light-to-moderate alcohol use increased the risk of heart failure," said Aguilar. "Although in contrast, there was a suggestion that heavy alcohol use may have raised the risk, although there were not enough subjects to conclude this."
Alcohol consumed in moderation is thought to be beneficial in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. In France, the death rate from heart disease is lower than that of any developed country, despite a high intake of saturated fat. Many attribute this to the high level of fruit and vegetables consumed, together with red wine.
Last week Beverage Dailyreported that scientists had discovered a possible mechanism for the anti-cancer activity of resveratol, the compound found in red wine, which is now thought to be responsible for the drink's widely reported health benefits. Since the 1980's, moderate alcohol intake has started to regain its stature as a temperate meal time beverage.
"The belief that alcohol was bad for health was so ingrained that the idea that small amounts might be good for you was hard to envisage," said Sir Richard Doll, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Oxford. "It is only in the past ten years that cardiologists and specialists in preventative medicine have begun to take it seriously."
Aguilar admitted they were pretty much in the dark about what to do when a patient in the clinic asked if they should stop drinking. "It's probably alright to drink," he said, "as long as we stress moderation."
