“The studies linking its consumption to benefits are of poor quality.”

When the terms “alcohol” and “health” come together, debates arise. Although health organizations, both national and international, clearly confirm that even small amounts are harmful to health, some studies point to a possible protective effect. Especially in the case of wine and specific diseases such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. Controversial opinions arise above all regarding moderate consumption, known on the street as “a glass,” and its supposed beneficial properties due to natural antioxidants. In this sense, the National Epidemiological Center of the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII) has dealt the final blow to the table with the publication of a new study in a scientific journal. Addictive behaviorwhere is the evidence presented that There is no evidence that drinking small amounts of alcohol reduces mortality.

Wine and cardiovascular disease

Researchers from Queen’s University (Canada) decided to study the relationship between wine and its heart-healthy properties. Let’s start with the basics: the quality and variety of grapes used in the winemaking process affect the composition of wine. This drink consists primarily of water, ethanol and polyphenols. The latter are divided into flavonoids and non-flavonoids (resveratrol).

When it comes to wine’s cardioprotective effects, polyphenols are a big deal: Red wine has ten times more of these compounds than white wine. But the researchers say the strongest evidence comparing the two types of wine is: poor thing. Flavonoids are powerful compounds. antioxidants which are also present in fruits, vegetables and beverages such as tea. The properties of flavonoids to reduce LDL cholesterol oxidation and prevent endothelial dysfunction, mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis, in addition to antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory effects, have been demonstrated in studies conducted with dealcoholized wine.

The researchers conclude that there is growing evidence that ethanol and wine polyphenols may have a synergistic effect against chronic cardiovascular diseases, mainly coronary heart disease. They add that there are discrepancies regarding the definition of a standard drink, “as the WHO definition of 10 grams has not been accepted internationally,” but epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that light to moderate consumption is cardioprotective after observing an inverse correlation with coronary heart disease. heart disease.

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Does alcohol prolong life?

The ISCIII researchers wanted to start from this base, with the supposed benefits of alcohol, to conclude whether drinking alcohol actually prolongs life. They used data from 43,847 people over the age of fifteen who took part in the 2011-2012 National Health Interview Survey and the 2014 European Health Interview Survey in Spain, which they then matched with a mortality registry up to December 2021.

Regarding alcohol consumption, they divided the participants into eight categories based on the frequency of drinking and the amount of alcohol consumed. Individuals were divided into: never drinkers (those who had never drunk alcohol or had only a few sips to try it); former drinkers (who had given up drinking alcohol and reported not having drunk alcohol in the last twelve months); infrequent drinkers (drinking less than once a month); frequent and occasional drinkers (less than once a week but more than once a month).

The results showed that compared to those who drink alcohol infrequently and occasionally (e.g.) they have no less risk of death (for all reasons). The researchers therefore say they have provided new evidence that challenges the message that drinking small amounts of alcohol can be beneficial to health. In particular, although drinking less than 20 grams a day does not appear to increase or decrease the risk of death, beyond that amount the risk increases as alcohol consumption increases.

“These findings suggest that research highlighting the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption is based on using alcohol as a benchmark teetotalers; a category that is not a good guide because for various reasons they have worse health and a higher risk of mortality. For this reason, a completely wrong public health message can be spread,” he explains. Iñaki Galanlead author of the paper and researcher at the National Epidemiology Center of the Carlos III Institute of Health.

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When asked why teetotalers are not a good reference category, Galan replies: “Of course, there are people who are happy and do not drink because they do not like it, but many teetotalers are teetotalers because they suffer from certain conditions. “diseases already at a young age. They do not drink alcohol because it can aggravate these pathologies. These people did not drink alcohol because of previous poor health. That is why it seems that giving up alcohol can even lead to worse health than those who drink. Well, no.” And he states: “This is a very bad reference category, and therefore it cannot be said that alcohol is good for our health.”

So remember that “there is no threshold of safety that guarantees there is no risk in drinking alcohol,” so the message that should be recommended from the science and health perspective is: “At least alcohol is better.”

The study he led is not the only one that ensures that studies attributing possible benefits to moderate drinking actually use biased methods. A recent review Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research from the Canadian Institute on Substance Use Research, where they say that studies that link light drinking to health benefits are not of good scientific quality. They do so after conducting a meta-analysis that pooled the findings of 107 previous studies: “This type of study could use a reference group of older adults who have stopped or limited their drinking for health reasons. “Compared to those who continue to drink, the latter may be healthier.” The debate will no doubt continue for a long time.

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