MUSC heart study reaffirms benefits of moderate alcohol consumption

"Don't drink, don't smoke" might be only half true.

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina found that nondrinkers ages 45 to 64 who began drinking in moderation reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by 38 percent.

The health gains arose quickly. "For it to be that evident in four years was surprising to me," lead study author Dr. Dana King said.

Those who drank wine experienced the most benefit, seeing a 70 percent decrease in cardiovascular events. The study did not distinguish between red and white wines.

But wait a minute. A team of British researchers announced a few weeks ago that even moderate drinking might lead to increased blood pressure.

Choosing between a pinot noir and a merlot is hard enough, but sorting through the scientific data is a real head-scratcher.

King and co-authors Arch Mainous and Mark E. Geesey gleaned their findings from a study of 7,697 people designed to identify risk factors for atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries.

The results of their analysis can be added to the mounting stack of studies that have touted heart-health benefits in moderate drinking.

Moderation is defined as two drinks per day or fewer for men, and one drink per day or fewer for women. A drink is one 12-ounce beer, 4 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. Those who drank more did not benefit, King said.

In the alcohol-is-not-so-good-for-you stack falls the British research and a well-known 2007 study that found drinking increases a woman's risk of breast cancer.

The MUSC study had a relatively brief follow-up period that did not allow observation of risks such as cancer.

Mainous distinguished between what the MUSC researchers looked for in their trial — cardiovascular events — and what the British team measured in its study — hypertension.

Hypertension is a risk factor of cardiovascular disease and might contribute to a heart attack or a stroke.

Discrepancies such as this might be explained in the future by what scientists don't yet understand, Mainous said.

New drinkers showed lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol and higher HDL or "good" cholesterol. But the molecular mechanism that creates this change is unknown, Mainous said. The researchers warned, however, that this is not a license for everyone to start drinking.

"People should consult a physician first," King said. Drinking might not be recommended for some people for a number of reasons, such as liver disease or cancer or if they are taking certain prescription medicines.

In the United States, 17.6 million people, or one in 12, abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Heavy drinking can damage the heart and the liver, and alcoholism can send tremors through a person's career and family life.

It's impossible to predict who will develop a drinking problem. That's why the American Heart Association cautions people not to start drinking if they do not already. "Our results do counter that recommendation," King said.

MUSC researchers found that those who start drinking in midlife are unlikely to drink more than the recommended amount. Less than 0.5 percent drank above the guidelines. "We want to prevent disease," Mainous said. "But this is one way that has a lot of stigma, a lot of cultural things attached to it."

Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@postandcourier.com.