It is common knowledge that the occasional drop of beer, wine or spirits will reduce the risk of contracting cardiovascular disease. Received knowledge has since been enriched by the realization of a meta-study: moderate drinking prolongs active life; excessive drinking, however, digs us an early grave.

Scientists have examined the results of 34 studies involving 1 015 835 male and female subjects - 94 533 of whom since deceased - with known alcohol habituation. The findings confirm the great leveller, the “J”  survival scythe according to drink consumption. For men and for women alike. Alcohol consumption of up to four (standard) units per day for men, two for women, was inversely related to total mortality, with a maximum protective effect of 18% for women, 17% for men. Higher doses of alcohol were correlated with higher mortality. The advantage followed a steeper downward gradient among the women than among the men. The same relation in the United States was, however, somewhat less marked there than that observed in Europe.

The researchers came to the conclusion that moderate alcohol consumption (1-2 glasses per day for women, 2-4 glasses per day for men) will protect against untimely death, whereas excessive alcohol consumption will have just the opposite effect.

  |terug|mail|print|top|