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Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Boomers who start drinking in middle age cut their heart disease risk
Another small — yet significant when considered in proper context — piece of evidence in the complex relationship between alcohol consumption and health made headlines yesterday: non-drinking baby boomers who start drinking in middle age cut their risk of cardiovascular disease. That’s according to an American Journal of Medicine study.
Here’s how the NY Times summarized the study:
The researchers followed 7,697 healthy men and women ages 45 to 64 enrolled in a large study of atherosclerotic illness, focusing on 442 who were nondrinkers at the start of the study but moderate drinkers at the six-year point. Then they tracked this group for cardiovascular disease over the next four years and compared them with people who continued to abstain. After controlling for age, physical activity, smoking and other cardiovascular risks, they found that new moderate drinkers were 38 percent less likely than abstainers to suffer a cardiovascular event during the four-year period. On average, they also had lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure, and there was no increase in mortality.
The study’s lead author says that, “… moderate alcohol consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle if you don’t have contraindications to it.”
The last part of that sentence shouldn’t be taken lightly. In particular, if your family has a history of alcoholism or addiction problems, starting to drink in middle age to chase a potential heart-health benefit may not be a good idea — at all.
Just a few days ago, a fellow wine blogger, 1WineDude, wrote a thoughtful piece entitled Wine Appreciation and Alcohol Abuse: How to Avoid Personal Disaster. It’s a must-read for those inside the wine industry, and for those who embrace wine with particular enthusiasm.
In short, every study that concerns the potential health benefits (or risks) of wine/alcohol consumption should be weighed carefully, in a broad context. It’s a complex subject, and not everyone responds the same way to alcohol.
Now, back to how well this pinot pairs with this pork chop …
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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