MGH Study Suggests Why Moderate Alcohol Intake May Benefit Cardiovascular Health
The heart and brain benefits of light to-moderate alcohol consumption are often debated, as various studies through the years have made the case that alcohol may offer some protection, while other research argues that alcohol poses significant health risks. The reality is that both of those arguments seem to hold some truth.
A recent Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) study, for example, suggests that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption reduces stress signaling in the brain, which may help explain why limited alcohol consumption is often associated with reduced risks of stroke and cardiovascular disease. The study was published recently in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
“We are not advocating the use of alcohol to reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes because of other concerning effects of alcohol on health,” says senior author and cardiologist Ahmed Tawakol, MD, co-director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center at MGH. “We wanted to understand how light to-moderate drinking reduces cardiovascular disease, as demonstrated by multiple other studies. And if we could find the mechanism, the goal would be to find other approaches that could replicate or induce alcohol’s protective cardiac effects without the adverse impacts of alcohol.”
Researchers found that the light-to moderate drinkers, on average, had fewer heart attacks and strokes compared with those who abstain or drink very little. The next part of the research focused on a subset of 754 individuals who had undergone previous PET/CT brain imaging, primarily for cancer surveillance. Dr. Tawakol and the other investigators looked for the effects of light-to moderate alcohol consumption on resting stress-related neural network activity. The brain scans revealed reduced stress signaling in the amygdala compared with those who abstained from alcohol or drank very little. The amygdala is involved with the stress response. “We found that the brain changes in light-to moderate drinkers explained a significant portion of the protective cardiac effects,” Dr. Tawakol says.
Alcohol’s Narratives
The recent MGH findings echo those of many other studies through the years that have found an association between moderate alcohol intake and cardiovascular health. For example, many studies have determined the Mediterranean diet to be a heart healthy eating strategy, and it includes a glass of wine with dinner, notes David Mischoulon, MD, PhD, director of MGH’s Depression Clinical and Research Program.
While Dr. Mischoulon was not involved with this study, he says that the fact that it included more than 50,000 people adds to the strength of the findings. “It is possible that moderate alcohol may have some benefits for the brain, by attenuating activity in stress-related networks,” he explains. “However, given everything we know about the dangers of alcohol, the medical establishment remains reluctant about recommending use of alcohol, even under the parameters that have been examined in the studies that show beneficial effects.”
Heavy alcohol consumption is also associated with higher risks of cancer and other health concerns. “Alcohol is an addictive substance that needs to be consumed with caution,” Dr. Mischoulon says. “Not everybody has the same degree of tolerance to alcohol, and some people may be genetically more vulnerable to developing a substance use disorder. These individuals need to be particularly careful about the use of alcohol. For the average citizen, an occasional glass of wine is unlikely to cause significant problems. But the overall balance between risks and benefits of alcohol needs to be further characterized.”
Takeaway
Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is considered one drink per day for women and one to two drinks per day for men. Dr. Tawakol’s research notes that beyond this range of alcohol intake, the risk of various health problems increases.
If you don’t drink, health experts agree that whatever benefits might be associated with light or moderate consumption aren’t enough to start drinking. And if you do consume alcohol, make it a point to stick to the guidelines for safe intake. People who have difficulty managing their alcohol should talk with their doctors or medical professionals who specialize in substance use disorder.
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