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Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2008 > March > 19 > Entry
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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Comments
By Morton Leslie
March 19, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
The New York Times, damn lies, and statistics. The odds of an cardiac event in a four year time period in the general U.S. population is 4 events in 247 people. A 38% reduction would be 1.5 events in that same 247 people. For 442 people it is less than 3 events in four years. Not such a big deal when presented that way is it? My guess it wouldn’t sell much in the way of newspapers. Now imagine if you prescribed a pill that would similarly reduce the chance of an event by 38%. Two hundred and forty five individuals who didn’t need the pill would have to take it in order to find and treat the 2 or 3 people who would profit from it. So the real question that needs to be examined are the potential side effects of the pill (or the alcohol) in those 245 individuals and does the treatment make sense. I also read exercising 5 times a week for 20 minutes supposedly cuts cardiac events by 46%. Does this mean that if we all drink, take a statin, and exercise we completely eliminate heart disease? Drug companies love manipulating statistics. The wine business should rise above it.By 1WineDude
March 19, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
Hi Mark - great article and thanks for the mention. A complex subject, indeed. I’ve watched some wine industry folks put back what I would consider a boatload of wine in an evening. Lots of water as well - though that only prevents hangovers, their livers may very well still be crying for mercy! Having said that, it’s great to see the other side of the coin in your article - responsible drinking for most of us is actually a good thing. Also great to see the word ‘contraindications’ used in print! :-) Cheers!By das
March 19, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
Good news for us! My husband and I are both boomers and appreciate a glass of wine with dinner.